Max Freer to take new brand for female entrepreneurs from Teesside to London and the North West
A Teesside-based female founder has poured her years of experience of juggling motherhood and caring responsibilities with running successful brand marketing businesses into a new holistic support service for other female entrepreneurs.
Max Freer has now called for more intervention from Government to capitalise on the potential economic power of women-led businesses.
The Stockton-based owner of OOK brand marketing agency and Female Founder UK, reacted to a BBC report out this week, which discussed the fact that while just one in five business owners across the UK are female, that figure falls even further – to 15% – in the North East.
At the same time, 80% of venture capital funding available to businesses is going to male business owners.
Max set up the trademarked brand Female Founder UK three years ago, in response to the need for more support for women in business across Teesside, from funding, through to peer support and marketing and business strategy.
She is now calling for a “whole system approach” to supporting women-led businesses, who stand to make a vital impact on the regional and national economy – if they can acquire equitable support to their male counterparts – to turn their business concepts into real products or services.
Speaking to Amy Oakden on BBC Tees, Max said: “Three years ago, I had the idea to incorporate a new company – and I trademarked Female Founder UK.
“At that point, I had been in business for 20 years and during that time, I’d seen a significant growth in women-led businesses and women-built brands on Teesside, while I have been supporting other female founders to catalyse their business growth.
“What I realised through that journey was that there was just no support for women in business – female founders.”
Asked what support women need, Max talked, not just about investment, but expressed the need for effective peer support and help with business and marketing strategy, in order to enable women to “get off the blocks” with their new companies.
“I think we need a whole system process,” said Max, who added women need help with everything from the “basic nuts and bolts” of starting a business through to help with marketing their product or service.
“What a lot of women lack is understanding of business strategy and marketing strategy, and how to take their conceptual idea into [creating] a product or service and then catalysing that for real growth.
“We need a whole system process in the Tees Valley, so women can get the investment and the support they need.”
Female Founder UK has events coming up in Teesside, Manchester and London, including The Longevity Lunch at 14 Drops Market Hall in Yarm, featuring nutritionist Angela Beecroft on Tuesday May 26.
Max says: “The lunch for female founders with Angela Beecroft offering advice on the importance of looking after ourselves demonstrates the holistic approach Female Founder UK is taking to the wellbeing of female business owners.
“Through our events, we look at everything from successful marketing and storytelling for our brands through to physical and mental wellbeing, juggling childcare and other caring responsibilities and practical nuts and bolts advice on the realities of running a business day to day.
“We are building up a wonderful community of female entrepreneurs across Teesside and beyond – and people who come to our events regularly talk about how friendly and empowering they find them.”
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/20224002933