2. ‘ I had never been in business before...
What’s stopping you?
Many women have heard it: that voice in
their head that tells them that they’re not
good enough, they haven’t got what it takes
and they’re going to fail. Perhaps it’s the
sleepless nights, worrying about managing
money and balancing family, business
and personal demands. No one said that
running a business is easy. But at Elevator,
we know that women face more barriers,
internally and externally, when thinking
about starting their entrepreneurial business
journey. Whilst support programmes exist,
a paralysing mindset can stop women
engaging with them in the first place.
At Elevator, we believe that
understanding these barriers is the first
step in delivering support that works.
“What’s Stopping You?” is an initiative to lay
down the challenge, provide the support and
remove the barriers for women embarking on
their entrepreneurial journey. It will shine a
light on the pathway to ‘Back Her Business’.
Through these activities, we will be
the positive voice in women’s heads
that tells them they can do it. We will
be the helping hand, the cheer of
support and the encouraging word
to turn their dreams into reality.
and felt the very thought of starting
overwhelming. I put it off so many times.
In my mind, there were too many barriers.
Working with Elevator and women at
a similar stage was a really valuable
experience to have early on. They gave me
the confidence to start out on my business
journey in 2017, and I haven’t looked back!’
Jennifer Rao-Williams
J-Rao Contemporary Apothecary
3. Back Her Business aims to get more women starting business and so does Elevator. Before
support can be provided to women on their entrepreneurial journey and initiatives such
as Back Her Business can be successful, women first need to take those initial tentative steps
and start. However, there are barriers, blockages and hurdles that need to be overcome or
removed first. “What’s Stopping You?” is a unique, pre-cursor companion initiative, designed
to complement ‘Back Her Business’ and address the mindsets and challenges faced by
women considering start up. In an open, honest and accessible way, Elevator proposes a
range of new activities across the three pilot regions that will challenge, address and provide
a critical support to smash through those barriers, and remove the blockages to business.
“What’s Stopping You?” – Flagship Annual ‘Unconference’
Elevator will launch with an inspiring, 1 day interactive ‘Unconference’ event with a broad
range of expert luminaries, inspirational leaders and relatable women to share their personal
stories and experiences in an open and candid way. The established ‘Unconference’ format
allows the real experts (the participants) to share their challenges, problems and needs on
the spot and convene into breakout workshops around the key topics. By giving women
ownership over the day and any events that spin off it, we will dig deep into our examination
of the challenges and develop strategies which will empower women to develop solutions to
the problems they have faced. Ownership always leads to greater engagement and traction.
What’s Stopping You? – Our Proposal
4. “What’s Stopping You?” – Quarterly activity
Based on the outcome from the ‘Unconference’, Elevator will deliver 4 quarterly events and focus
groups in each area over 12 months. These would be delivered in both rural and city locations
and virtually. Typically these would be short, sharp sessions (max 1 hour), focusing on a specific
problem or challenge with the aim of maximising the number of ideas generated that address
each area. Elevator has a strong working relationship with Dr Norin Arshed, Senior Lecturer
in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the School of Business and Independent Advisor to the
Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills for Women in Enterprise. Dr
Arshed has expressed interest in facilitating the focus groups alongside the Elevator team.
“What’s Stopping You?” – Monthly drop-in sessions
Elevator will run and manage monthly, informal business advice drop-in sessions,
hosted in each of the three regions with Royal Bank of Scotland Business Enablers,
Business Gateway, accountants, lawyers and other enterprise experts and business
intermediaries. These events would enable women to discuss their business
needs with experts, no matter what stage they are at on their business journey.
“What’s Stopping You?” – Monthly Podcast
To add to the virtual and physical community, Elevator proposes to deliver a monthly
“What’s Stopping You?” podcast. The format will be a frank, honest and real conversation
between a relatable local luminary and a woman starting up in business. Contributors
and subjects for the podcast could be identified via the Facebook community page.
“What’s Stopping You?” – PR & Marketing
Elevator would publish “What’s Stopping You?” themed ‘Thought Leadership’ pieces from
key members of Royal Bank of Scotland’s team locally and nationally, in addition to pieces
from role models, ambassadors, Elevator / Business Gateway clients and Elevator Accelerator
alumni. These could link into forthcoming events or highlight key challenges and opportunities
for women starting their business. Elevator will also produce tailored press releases: these will
tie into The Royal Bank of Scotland’s launch release and national profiles, celebrate significant
milestones and individuals’ success stories. In addition, Elevator will produce and distribute
What’s Stopping You? – Our Proposal
5. flyers / leaflets to groups utilised in the main by women such as local
crafting groups, mothers and toddlers’ groups, nurseries, fitness
groups, gyms, libraries, churches, local community groups and cafes.
BE BRAVE! Festival
Elevator’s Festival of Enterprise will take place in Aberdeen on
Thursday 3 October. This celebration will include a range of events
and speakers, all aimed at inspiring the expected 1500 attendees
to be brave and take a step to turning their business dreams into
reality. The festival could include dedicated “What’s Stopping You?”
space, stand and input from inspirational and credible entrepreneurs
and the Royal Bank of Scotland Business Growth Enablers.
“What’s Stopping You?” – Outdoor Challenge
The annual Elevator Challenge is one of the highlights of the
entrepreneurial calendar and has seen hundreds of potential young
entrepreneurs battle against the elements and environment to test
themselves against a range of physical and business challenges, to
see if they have what it takes to set up and grow a successful business.
We believe that there is an opportunity to deliver a “What’s Stopping
You?” female only outdoor challenge, bringing together women
from Aberdeen City & Shire, Tayside and Moray. This event will
enable women to tackle the specific obstacles and barriers they face -
confidence, balancing work and life commitments, growth mindset, risk
awareness, mindfulness and funding. This session would be delivered
by the Elevator team and Back Her Business ambassadors/ role models.
Elevator helps
800 women across
Aberdeen City & Shire
and Tayside start
up in business every
year.
6. MEET THE TEAM
Cat Ward
Accelerator Manager,
Dundee
Lynne martin
Accelerator Manager,
Perth
Fiona McLachlan
Marketing &
Communications
Manager,
Aberdeenshire
Roz Taylor
Operations Manager,
Aberdeenshire
Nicki Mearns
Operations Manager,
Tayside
Caryn Gibson
Depute Operations
Manager, Tayside
Karen Clark
Programme Manager,
Aberdeenshire
Developed by women for women, “What’s Stopping You?” brings together extensive
experience, knowledge and insight into the hurdles, challenges, barriers and most importantly
the solutions faced by women looking to start their entrepreneurial journey. Elevator has
assembled the very best of its female advisors, managers and experts to design, develop
and deliver the framework and programme. The team provides capability from a broad
background of sectors, ages and geographical regions. This removes one of the first
potential barriers for other women ensuring approachability of support is easy and relatable.
Ambassadors and luminaries
Beyond that of the core team, Elevator will use its vast network of contacts in relevant
regions to build a group of credible female entrepreneurs and business women to
spearhead marketing and promotion of “What’s Stopping You?”. In addition, this
group will act as luminaries, who will help shed a light on different aspects of the new
businesses and test the assumptions these are based on, in regular and focused 1-1
meetings. We would also appoint female enterprise champions within the Elevator team.
7. Pricing Element Price (excl VAT)
Design and delivery of “What’s Stopping You?” activities (Aberdeen City and Shire)
Design and delivery of “What’s Stopping You?” activities (Tayside)
Design and delivery of “What’s Stopping You?” activities (Moray)
Sub total
VAT
Total including VAT
Proposal and Cost
Elevator believe that the pre-cursor companion initiative “What’s Stopping You?” is required
nationally. In order to validate this and fine tune the offering, Elevator propose to pilot this in 3
initial territories: Aberdeen City & Shire, Tayside and Moray. This will allow Elevator and Royal Bank
of Scotland to gain a broad geographical understanding of the different needs and requirements,
as well as allowing the participants to draw on experience from as wide a range of views as possible.
Elevator propose to work with at least 200 women in each territory from Moray to
Tayside. We will remove any potential barriers and assist them into the Back Her
Business pipeline. If successful, a national roll out of the programme is possible.
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8. making it happen
With over 30 years of experience of delivering business and economic
support services, Elevator is one of Scotland’s foremost organisations
dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurs and business leaders of today
and tomorrow. We do this by providing a range of events and programmes,
vibrant & inspiring business advice, and by encouraging entrepreneurship
andenterprisingbehaviourthrougharangeofengagingprojectsandevents
across Scotland. Elevator operates as a social enterprise and our singular
focus is to maximise the impact that we can make on the Scottish economy.
With this experience, we will create a pipeline for the Back Her Business
programme, with early stage intervention and activities delivered for
women, by women over the next 12 months, piloted across Aberdeen
City and Shire, Tayside and Moray. This cross-territory activity, covering
both rural and urban areas will provide a critical mass and enable an
even greater impact and reach to the women who really need it. This will
also provide the basis for a national rollout after the initial pilot period.
Centre for Entrepreneurship, Aberdeen
9. Andrew Burnett
Director of Operations
Cat Ward
Project Lead
Elevator
Exploration Drive
Bridge of Don
AB23 8GX
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