The Ayrshire Association of Business Women (AABW) has announced an extension of the ‘Women in Enterprise’ initiative, launched in August 2013, by providing sponsorship for eight new female entrepreneurs.
Led by entrepreneur Marie Macklin (pictured above), CEO of the Klin Group, the scheme commits to helping businesswomen develop their business networks and provides access to expert, practical advice and guidance.
In 2013, Marie funded membership of the AABW for six women and has acted as a sponsor, providing mentoring sessions and advice throughout the year. She will fund a further eight women this month, and aims to welcome 25 women in total in the first year of this successful initiative.
A diverse range of women has been selected for the scheme, with businesses ranging from a mortgage and financial services business to a designer home furnishings boutique. The women receiving sponsorship are:
• Angela Fisk - Mortgage Services
• Isabel McNicoll - The Business Timesaver Ltd
• Louise McCarron - Get2Grips with Grants
• Debbie Hay - The Dust Fairy
• Fiona Ritchie - HouseShape
• Carol Spier - Many Thanks Gift Shop
• Amy O’Farrell - Amy’s O’florals
• Sandra Patterson - KidsBeeHappy
The ‘Women in Enterprise’ scheme is currently being piloted in Ayrshire. However, Marie hopes that the concept will be adopted by other established entrepreneurs and replicated across Scotland.
She said: “I am delighted to continue sponsorship of the Women in Enterprise initiative with the AABW and look forward to welcoming eight new entrepreneurs this month. The six women who joined the scheme last year are going from strength to strength and I know they appreciate the benefits of being involved. I am pleased to confirm that by August this year, I will have welcomed 25 women in total to the Women in Enterprise initiative. I strongly believe in nurturing talent and providing opportunities to help individuals, their businesses and ideas to flourish, and the ‘Women in Enterprise’ scheme provides the support network and advice to effectively encourage this.”
Liz Cooper, President of the Ayrshire Association of Business Women, said: “The Ayrshire Association of Business Women is proud and delighted to be part of this pioneering initiative, and we warmly welcome the eight new Women in Enterprise participants to our group. Marie’s vision and dedication to supporting fellow women entrepreneurs is reflected in AABW’s own determination to support and encourage Ayrshire businesswomen and we are thrilled to see the initiative enter its second phase. Each and every member of AABW, be they long standing or new, greatly enriches our association and in this, our 20th year, we look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to our varied programme of events.”
The Ayrshire Association of Business Women is Ayrshire’s leading business, entrepreneurial and professional women’s group, with members from a wide range of industries, sectors and backgrounds. The Association meets monthly with a diverse programme of inspirational speakers, workshops and networking opportunities throughout the year.
Marie Macklin is an entrepreneur and CEO of The Klin Group, which engages in economic and social transformation in Scotland and manages a portfolio of international property investments. Since 1988, Marie has progressed the company from property construction into land investment and property regeneration. Engaging local communities in planning transformation is fundamental to Marie’s business philosophy. Marie has also recently been appointed Board Member of Ayrshire College and works with local schools and aspiring young business people to encourage new generations of entrepreneurs, sharing business knowledge and providing advice and financial support for initiatives which motivate young people.
