V&A DUNDEE CHAIRMAN SUPPORTS PIONEERING WOMEN’S PROGRAMME

Dundee business leader and entrepreneur Tim Allan has become the Founding Social Sponsor of Women’s Business Station.

Mr Allan, owner of Tricorn Capital, Chair of V&A Dundee and President of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, is investing £20,000 in the social enterprise which supports women on their business journey.

Women’s Business Station has an ambitious, 10-year plan, to enhance the socio-economic empowerment of 10,000 women in Scotland by 2030.

Launching in September 2021, the new ‘Aspiring Women’ programme, will specifically target hard-to-reach audiences, including BAME communities, who suffer from hardship and disadvantage. 

With the pilot focused on the Dundee community, the free programme will take 12 women on a 20-week journey from self-belief and mindset to enterprise and business skills.

The programme will then extend into Perthshire, Angus and Fife.

Mr Allan said, “Women’s Business Station has been doing outstanding work and has a proven track record of creating real impact amongst women setting up in business. However, there are many others who need our support.

“Covid has disrupted society and our lifestyles for almost 18 months and those most affected are those least able to deal with it, often lacking the resources or capacity to be resilient. The launch of Aspiring Women therefore couldn’t be more timely.

“Aspiring Women will increase capacity amongst the lesser-served parts of society. By reaching out to women who perhaps don’t have the experience, confidence, self-belief or autonomy to achieve what they want, we can really make a difference, empowering them to move onwards.”

Mr Allan also believes other businesses and individuals should strongly consider investing in Women’s Business Station, believing that “investing in people is one of the best investments you can make.”

Angie De Vos, CEO, Women’s Business Station hopes Tim will be the first of many.

She said: “Tim’s generous investment of £20,000 will allow us to launch this new Aspiring Women programme and we hope Tim will be the first of many social sponsors to support us by investing in people.

“This programme is a local game changer. Unlike most entrepreneurial programmes, this one is aimed at mums, grannies, aunties, nieces and women who are stuck in a rut of generational and/or work poverty.

“It is packed with empowering content, local support, tools, and action-based activities that will awaken and inspire positive change.”