The new regional Women's Enterprise Centre of Expertise (WECOE) has been launched at an event attended by some of the region's top women entrepreneurs.
Advantage West Midlands Chairman Nick Paul, Director of the WECOE Jackie Brierton and International Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Deb Leary attended the official launch at the regional HQ in the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Advantage West Midlands supports and funds the WECOE and has provided £800,000 to enable it to support the work of this vital sector.
The WECOE was established to provide strategic support for the development of women's enterprise across the West Midlands, influencing the policies and practices of regional business support and economic development. Their ultimate aim is to see more women in business across the west Midlands.
Nick Paul said: "We are delighted to be supporting women's enterprise in the region. The West Midlands can be rightly proud of its leading work to promote women entrepreneurs. It is a testament to the commitment to female enterprise in this region that the WECOE has been recognised on a national platform and will partner with the new National Women's Enterprise Policy and Research Centre. I am delighted to be at the official launch of this pioneering project.
"We are proud of the support we provide to women entrepreneurs through the WECOE and through other organisations who will be providing support to women through Business Link West Midlands services.
"We fully recognise and value the contribution of women entrepreneurs - not just because of our commitment to equality of opportunity but in simple business terms, encouraging more women-led enterprises to start, and grow in the West Midlands is essential for our economy. Women-owned businesses have a high success rate but there are still too few of them in the region and we want to do everything we can to increase their numbers.
"This is an exciting time. As well as inspiring more women to go into business generally, we want our region's female entrepreneurs to be at the forefront of success and innovation nationally."
Deb Leary, Chief Executive Officer of Forensic Pathways, a leading international forensics consultancy based in Tamworth, who has been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List to receive an OBE, made a speech in which she expressed her delight about the new WECOE and her high hopes for the success of women entrepreneurs in the region.
A West Midlands Youth Enterprise Centre of Expertise and West Midlands Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre of Expertise are also planned later this year.
The management of the WECOE is contracted by Advantage West Midlands to Prowess, a national alliance of more than 200 organisations, which support women to start and grow businesses.
Advantage West Midlands new Director of Business Support and Enterprise Debra Blisson also attended the launch and spoke to the attendees.