The Growing Club receives funding to help more women

By Tim Aldred

07 Oct 2020

The Growing Club in Lancaster has received additional funds to launch more of its business support courses and skills training for women.

Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, Boost Lancashire, Lancaster City Council, Rosa Fund and the Workers’ Educational Association, The Growing Club is now able to deliver more training and courses to support women in business throughout COVID-19 and beyond.

During the lockdown, The Growing Club adapted its training provisions to deliver courses online via Zoom. Women were joining courses from all over the UK and beyond. This led to the business growth and sustainability programme, Bloom & Grow, being offered as an online course for the first time, starting this month.

The club has recommenced its face-to-face business training delivery starting with a new session of its start-up programme Roots and Shoots, helping women to begin their own business with support and skills training.

Additionally, the organisation have been awarded a contract to deliver a fully funded government initiative of peer-to-peer action learning and coaching for women running businesses or not-for-profits in Lancashire, who, up to the pandemic, had more than £100,000 turnover. This starts in mid-November.

Working in partnership with Lancaster City Council on the COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Initiative, The Growing Club is now offering a second Peer Mentoring training programme for women who run businesses in Lancaster, following the successful roll-out of the first course. The initiative sees women train as a mentor for other women in business, and they are also provided with their own trained business mentor for 12-months. This comprehensive training programme is fully funded for women who have been in business for at least three years.

Jane Binnion, founding director and lead trainer at The Growing Club said: "We are delighted to return to our work, delivering a variety of training courses for women in business, especially during this worrying time of a pandemic. Our online training is a perfect learning solution for women who are interested in receiving business training in sustainable growth but are unable to travel to Lancaster."

Jane added: "The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published their Quarterly Labour Force Survey in May, finding that women and young people under 25 were more likely to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, predicting long-term economic consequences for these groups.

"Other statistics showed that women who were mothers and also self-employed, suffered a particularly difficult financial setback, with 74% seeing their earning potential diminished because of childcare issues such as lack of access, with 44% of self-employed mothers having to give up their childcare places during the COVID-19 pandemic."

  • For further Lancashire business news, advice and analysis subscribe to Lancashire Business View or join the LBV Hub from just £2.50 per month. Click here to subscribe now.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win Warehouse Supervisor at Pets Choice Brad Eddleston and McMurrays Sales Manager Rob Spencer. Photo credit: McMurrays Haulage Limited

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win

21 Oct 2025

2

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day Derry Green

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day

21 Oct 2025

3

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary Eden Project garden

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary

21 Oct 2025

4

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year' British Farming Awards

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year'

20 Oct 2025

5

Breck Homes appoints new managing director Phil Dolan, Breck

Breck Homes appoints new managing director

20 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin