Paula Fitzsimons (Directors, Going for growth) held this presentation at the 2014 SME Assembly in Naples, Italy. Find more information at: http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/promotingenterprise/

2. Paula Fitzsimons
Director
Going for Growth

3. •Fewer women start new businesses than do men
•Latent entrepreneurial potential of women recognised
•Focus on encouraging more women to start businesses
•This addresses only part of the challenge!
Setting Out The Challenge

4. •Of those women that start, fewer grow their businesses
•Means needed to encourage and support more women to develop and grow their businesses
•Going for Growth was designed and developed to meet this challenge
Setting Out The Challenge

5. •Unique support for women growing their businesses
•Selected participants, at same stage of development, are placed at one of eight round tables
•Each group is facilitated and led by an experienced woman Lead Entrepreneur, who gives time on a voluntary basis
•Development fostered through agenda led discussion
What is Going for Growth?

6. The Going for Growth Leads

7. •Reduces sense of isolation
•Applies “good” peer pressure
•Participants become highly motivated and confidence increases
•Learn from each other as well as from the Lead
•Move towards achieving stated goals
•Set ambitions even higher
Effects of Going for Growth

8. •93% of participants completed the 6th cycle
•100% considered the experience positive
•98% made a decision for their business
•95% considered that the sessions translated into practical change within their business
•93% felt nearer to achieving their growth goals at the end of the cycle
6th Cycle of Going for Growth

9. In the six month period:
•Sales: 71% of the participants’ businesses experienced an average growth in sales of 15%
•Exporters: Exporters increased by 22%
•Job Creation: 13% increase in employment
Tangible Outcomes

10. http://www.goingforgrowth.com/testimonials
What Participants say.....

13. •6 cycles already successfully completed and plans at advanced stage for 7th cycle
•Over 350 past participants to date
•Testimonials on site attest to the benefits the participants derived from their involvement
•Past participants and Leads are best ambassadors
•High demand for participation in future cycles
Going for Growth

14. •Ambitious women entrepreneurs, regardless of sector, whether clients of development agencies or not
•Competitive process: all must demonstrate desire for growth
•Ideally with sales for at least two years – “Going for Growth”
•Exceptions with very significant growth potential are considered - “Starting Strong”
Target Group

15. •Firm base of research underpinning the initiative
•Reflects national policy and enterprise priorities
•Included in the 2009 Good Practice initiatives by the European Commission and voted into the Top 10 as most beneficial to implement of those initiatives.
•Represented Ireland in European Enterprise Awards 2011
•In 2014 described as inspiring practice by OECD and EU and awarded Good Practice by the European Institute of Gender Equality, following a competitive process
Strong Credentials

16. •An international dimension of Going for Growth will provide a means of linking ambitious women entrepreneurs focused on growth to learn from each other, network and do business together.
•Pilot of Going for Growth now completed in Finland, stated intention to roll out further in 2015
•Which European country will be next?
Going for Growth…..What’s stopping you?
Going for Growth Across Europe

17. Paula Fitzsimons
paula@goingforgrowth.com
www.goingforgrowth.com