Sacha Woolham, Founder of The Strategy Collective based in Burray, Orkney is part of the latest cohort of women business owners to be appointed to the Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) Ambassador programme.

WES is a community interest company which works to ensure women have access to the gender specific support they need to start-up and thrive in business.

She joins Kirsteen Stewart, Founder of Kirsteen Stewart Designs, who has been an Ambassador since 2014.

Sacha Woolham said:

“Women’s businesses are a crucial part of our economy. Hit hard in COVID, now more than ever it is important to support other women to start and grow their own businesses. WES is a fantastic organisation helping women across the country. It was an honour to be asked to become an ambassador to help inspire other women.”

The new intake takes the WES Ambassador cohort to over 70 women, owning and running businesses across Scotland, from Orkney to the Borders and from the Outer Hebrides to Fife. Sectors represented are wide ranging, from food, travel and textiles to professional services, wellbeing, hospitality and manufacturing.

Women have fundamentally different experiences to men in business. Challenges faced by women include access to finance, disproportionate caring responsibilities, access to networks, mentoring and role models.

The Strategy Collective has grown rapidly over the past few years to support local businesses in finding new markets and developing their online offering. Recently shortlisted for Business Women’s Scotland Rising Star Award, the team has grown to support businesses on marketing, web development, content creation and product development.

Sacha Woolham added:

“Whilst we know that women owned businesses contribute £8.8bn Gross Value Add into the Scottish economy and have created over 230,000 jobs, there is so much more that could be done. As a WES Ambassador, I will be playing my part in helping to achieve the gender balanced business ecosystem which is so crucial to our post pandemic economic recovery.”