A night of inspiration and achievement 

At the Business & IP Centre (BIPC), we had the pleasure of hosting an awards ceremony to celebrate the incredible women finalists who participated in the National Women’s Enterprise Week (NWEW) Women’s Launch Lab incubator programme. The event was a highlight of National Women’s Enterprise Week, a celebration of women in entrepreneurship founded by entrepreneur Alison Cork MBE, a BIPC Ambassador, run in partnership with the BIPC. 

Meet the winners 

The two cash-prize winners of the programme were Beatrice Larkin (start-up winner) and Jenny Wordsworth (scale-up winner). Both women impressed the judges with their innovative ideas and dedication. We can’t wait to see what more they achieve in the future. 

Beatrice, who has used the BIPC said:  

“The Women's Launch Lab was an intensive brilliant few days filled with workshops and networking, and I met some brilliant, inspiring entrepreneurs on the course. I found out about the opportunity through The British Library and the Business & IP Centre after completing their Growth Mentoring Programme and I am so glad I applied. The BIPC is such a fantastic resource that I will definitely be accessing further as my business grows. In the past I wouldn't have called myself an entrepreneur, always describing myself as a textile designer with my own business. Being part of National Women's Enterprise Week and winning the Start-Up award has given me the confidence to now call myself one!” 

A panel of inspiring women 

To complement the awards ceremony, we hosted a panel discussion featuring four successful women entrepreneurs who have used the BIPC to boost their businesses. The panel was moderated by Alison Cork MBE, the founder of NWEW and Make It Your Business. 

“To have a room filled with so many female entrepreneurs dedicated to creating more opportunities for all female entrepreneurs is quite something and to be one of the panel this year was great!” - Amelia Packham 

Meet the panelists 

• Amina Alkzemi: Founder of Amina AI, an AI-driven solutions brand. 

• Suki Pantal: Founder of Suki's Curries and Spices, a culinary ambassador and storyteller of Indian culture. 

• Amelia Packham: Founder of Cool Crutches, a company that designs comfortable and stylish walking aids. 

• Esther Soloman-Turay: BIPC Lewisham Ambassador and founder of Authentic Worth Publishing. 

“There is power in unity when we come together and work as a team - we must learn to give others an opportunity to show their skills and serve the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs willing to make a difference in the world, starting with the community one step at a time. With the help of the BIPC and their services, they have helped Authentic Worth with opportunities to talk about my business journey, meet other like-minded business owners and those desiring to start a business. I hope business owners and entrepreneurs will be able to access the resources they offer and utilise it for the growth of their personal and professional endeavours.” 

- Esther Soloman-Turay 

Why National Women's Enterprise Week matters 

National Women's Enterprise Week is a crucial initiative that aims to support and encourage women to start their own businesses. Despite the fact that women are more likely to turn a profit in their first month of trading than men, they still face significant challenges in the business world. NWEW works to address these challenges and create a more equitable environment for female entrepreneurs. 

A night to remember 

The awards ceremony and panel discussion were a resounding success. It was inspiring to hear from so many talented and driven women. We are proud to support the next generation of female entrepreneurs and look forward to seeing what next year’s National Women’s Enterprise Week brings. 

Congratulations to all the participants and the winners of the Women’s Launch Lab incubator programme! Sign up to our workshops to boost your business and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to hear about our upcoming events and next year’s NWEW and Launch Lab.