UK bank NatWest and social technology company Meta are joining forces to provide financial readiness for female business owners.
A part of Meta’s #SheMeansBusiness campaign, NatWest will fund up to £2 billion in funding by offering entrepreneurial and digital skills training.
Formerly known as FaceBook, Meta launched the #SheMeansBusiness project six years ago as a means to support women economic empowerment. The program has helped 1.5 million women across the globe, incentivising the impact females can have in the business landscape.
Carrie Timms, Director of Global Business Marketing, EMEA at Meta commented: “Women small business owners have fought to keep their doors open during this pandemic. We at Meta want to stand by them, which is why we’re proud to partner with NatWest on this new #SheMeansBusiness programme.
“Whether it’s help getting an ad campaign up and running, or expert advice on business finance, we hope these new offerings will help women entrepreneurs come back from the pandemic stronger than ever.”
NatWest has long had a vested interest in helping female business owners, helping teach 56,000 females aged 16-18 entrepreneurial skills and accelerate it’s hub spaces by 50% to go to women.
The recent findings of the Rose Review Progress Report 2022, found that if women scaled up businesses at the same rate as men, “up to £250B of new value could be added to the UK economy”.
The report also delves into the negative impact COVID-19 has had on female businesses, highlighting that “female entrepreneurs have spent twice as long on caring responsibilities during the pandemic as their male counterparts”.
“The latest Rose Review progress report showed that women are starting more businesses than ever,” said Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise at NatWest Group.
“Supporting women to build their companies is a key next step and it’s great news that NatWest and Meta have partnered to offer all female entrepreneurs tuition and networking, and a lucky fifty women business owners an even bigger boost to their companies.”
NatWest and Meta will also launch a competition from 11 April – 19 May, with a chance for 50 female entrepreneurs to win Meta advertising credits and additional support for their business.
