Local News in Manchester

Consultancy

• North West Women in Business Awards Friday 23rd January

• Innovation vouchers worth £3, 000 available to entrepreneurs 

• Sissy Rooney, Finalist for the UK Fashion Entrepreneur for2009

• Heather Wilkinson, Founder of Striding Out, finalist in the Crain's Business Woman of the Year.   

• Finance for SME's and Social Enterprises in the North West

North West Women in Business Awards Friday 23rd January

Now in its second year, the Northwest Women in Business Awards brings together women behind some of the
region’s most innovative and successful companies. Building on the success of last year, there are now 6 awards
which will be presented at a glittering ceremony and gala dinner on the evening of Friday 23 January 2009 at The
Park Royal Hotel, Warrington.

Book now for the event at  www.nwwomeninbusinessawards.co.uk  

Innovation vouchers for entrepreneurs

Innovation Vouchers are designed to help Northwest businesses owners, entrepreneurs, charities and social enterprises to purchase an academic's expertise to develop innovation and enhance business

It provides a voucher up to £3,000 to new and growing businesses, charities and social enterprises. It was set up to encourage and make it easier for more people to engage with the knowledge base and in particular universities and further education colleges.

The next round opens on 12th January. Find out more here !

Sissy Rooney, Finalist for the UK Fashion Entrepreneur 2009

Sissy Rooney, Founder of Street Style Surgery

Sissy uses fashion as a medium to instil confidence and creativity within the youth of today.

I introduce young people from all backgrounds to the fashion design industry, while also teaching them how to be entrepreneurial through their own creative talent and skills. I raise awareness of all aspects of the fashion industry, eg the design process, colour and fabrics, manufacturing, branding, marketing, consumerism, costing, sales and profit margins, whilst also educating them on the ethics of the fashion industry i.e. recycling and fair trade production and manufacture.

I host all the workshops in a fun and energetic manner to children as young as age 6 and all the way up to age 25. I have worked within many organisation including special needs schools, mainstream schools, homeless organisations, even outside in parks with the lottery funded organisation "parktastic" in order to engage young people who wouldn't necessarily go to a youth club or come into contact with any aspect of fashion education. The outcome of my lessons are above and beyond what I could ever expect, all my young people shine with so much self-confidence in seeing what they have made and achieved, they all feel like real fashion designers and wear their garment with so much pride. Some even want to go on to be fashion designers and I offer advice and guidance on courses and avenues they can take to achieve this.