IN4.0 and The Landing have launched a new accelerator to help kick-start the entrepreneurial careers of 100 women who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The FreelanceHER 100 programme aims to give them access to the skills, self-belief and confidence to pursue their ambitions as a freelancer or start-up business.
Women from across the 10 Greater Manchester districts will have the opportunity to apply for the fully-funded three-month accelerator, which will be delivered online.
On successfully completing the programme, the 100 freelancers will be offered 12 months business co-working space at Arrive in MediaCityUK and innovation hub membership starting at £99 per month.
The programme will work with specialist partners, female entrepreneurs and industry experts giving participants access to a wide range of networks and a supportive community of female founders and mentors.
IN4.0 with The Landing’s has appointed Naomi Timperley to lead the FreelanceHER 100 as programme director. Timperley is a public speaker, advisor and works with Alt Theory, the Shipley-based growth and innovation agency.
She said: “This is a first of its kind groundbreaking accelerator for women and led by women, creating an opportunity for 100 female freelancers to thrive in these challenging times.
“We want to empower female freelancers to be strong leaders, to create powerful enterprises and to influence and shape the world through their companies, using collaboration, community, and innovation.
“We want to support diverse women who have the skills to launch and lead businesses in multiple markets from idea to validation to funding readiness.
“We will ensure they can do this in a safe environment that is flexible and authentic so that after 12 weeks they have the confidence and ability to build and grow their business.”
FreelanceHER 100 ambassadors will include Rose Marley, CEO – Sharpe Futures & Cooperatives UK, Beena Puri, Innovation & Partnerships Lead at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Annette Joseph, CEO of Diverse & Equal and former Co-op Digital Delivery Manager.
Mo Isap, CEO of IN4.0 Group, said: “We know that because of the pandemic there are women who are now out of employment but have ambitions to use their talents to do something for themselves and Covid has catalysed their career into entrepreneurship.
“Now they have an opportunity with us through FreelanceHER 100 to help support them as they embark on that initial journey.
“This is something that is going to be distinctive, something that’s meaningful and is a support intervention to help empower female entrepreneurs and female founders in Greater Manchester.
“We know that setting up as a freelancer can be challenging as it is a new world and there are many aspects that might not be familiar.
“By giving them access to a three-month accelerator and incubator programme led by Naomi Timperley, one of the UK’s leading growth and innovation consultants, to support those entrepreneurs in the digital creative and technology sector, is going to have a significant positive impact.”
“Here at IN4.0 with The Landing we want to promote our shared values of diversity and help shape the exciting future of women in the region and this includes using our expertise and our network to working towards an inclusive entrepreneurial community where everyone can thrive.”
FreelanceHER 100 will launch on 8 January 2021. Entries are open from 24 November 2020 and close on 31 December 2020.
