Free website for Women-led start-ups

To coincide with International Women’s Day 2023, and as part of B Corp month, Istoria Group is launching a competition to find a regional, women-owned Micro Business to support as part of its Incubator Hub programme, whereby Istoria Group houses and helps guide fledgling businesses during their initial period of development. The lucky winning business will receive rent-free office space for up to four people at Istoria Group’s Bristol Paintworks HQ for a 6-month period starting 1 June 2023. Istoria Group is additionally offering mentorship and in-house creative services as follows, including the services of the team at Tiny Spark:

• 3 x 1 hour sessions with Istoria Group Chairwoman Claire Menzies concentrating on business growth and entrepreneurialism
• Free website design and build courtesy of Istoria Group’s digital innovation specialists Tiny Spark
• Free brand critique / refresh courtesy of Istoria Group’s branding, retail and hospitality designers Phoenix Wharf
• 2 x 1 hour sessions with Istoria Group’s Group Finance Director Bryn Isaacs, focusing on financial forecasting, cashflow and budgeting
• 2 x 1 hour sessions with Istoria Group’s Chief Marketing Officer Lindie Kramers, focusing on marketing strategies
• 2 x 1 hour sessions on PR and Communications with Istoria Group’s PR Consultant Caroline Collett, plus 500 words of free marketing or press release copy

The winner will be selected from applications received online on this link – https://www.istoriagroup.com/micro-business-competition-2023 – before the deadline of midnight on Wednesday 19 April 2023.

To help target its search, Istoria Group is working with the support two established local organisations – Black South West Network (www.blacksouthwestnetwork.org)  and Babbasa (www.babbasa.com ) – to help spread the word and make sure new of the competition offer reaches as diverse and inclusive an audience as possible in the region.

Lindie Kramers, Chief Marketing Officer for Istoria Group, commented:

‘As a women-owned SME, we’re actively seeking to support another female-founded business in our region. We want to be as inclusive as possible in our search for the right Micro Business and would particularly welcome applications from traditionally under-represented communities in business, whether by age, class or ethnicity, to help promote social mobility and counter current imbalances in opportunity and representation.’

Sibusiso Tshabalala, Business Support Coordinator, Black South West Network, commented:

‘If the Creative Industries were as socio-economically diverse as the wider economy, the sector could provide employment opportunities to an additional 263,200 working-class individuals. However, the lack of diversity in the industry remains a challenge. Fortunately, creative agencies like Istoria Group are working selflessly and consciously to diversify the industry. Initiatives like theirs are particularly crucial in areas like the South West, which lack representation in the creative sector. By supporting minority-led agencies, we can foster the growth of diverse creative content that is relevant and engaging to both the local community and beyond.’

Matt Rogers, Head of Development at Babbasa, added:

‘Many of the young people Babbasa supports are interested in entrepreneurship, and starting their own business is a key way for many young people to access an income that enables them to thrive. We’re pleased to support this fantastic opportunity.’

The winning applicant / business will be selected by a team of five judges:

• Sam Rowe, CEO, Istoria Group
• Lindie Kramers, CMO, Istoria Group
• Sibusiso Tshabalala, Business Support Coordinator, BSWN
• Matt Rogers, Head of Development, Babbasa
• Cecilia Thirlway, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship,
• Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Bristol

About The Incubator Hub:

The Incubator Hub idea arises out of Istoria Group’s dedication to start-up entrepreneurialism and business mentorship. The Incubator Hub was set up to house and help guide small businesses until they mature and, to date, Istoria Group has successfully helped to grow and ‘hatch’ two Incubator Hub companies:

i am a bookworm
Children’s book publishers – https://www.iamabookworm.co.uk/

Solverboard
Innovation platform Solverboard, which was purchased in Summer 22 by AIM-listed technology and innovation experts Sopheon (and now rebranded as ‘Acclaim Ideas’) – https://www.sopheon.com/products/acclaimideas