Flying Start for entrepreneurial female graduates

Female graduates who are intent on becoming entrepreneurs have gathered in York after winning a place on the Flying Start programme offered by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE).

Meeting at the Park Inn, the 60 successful applicants to the Flying Start course fought off competition from 1,085 other candidates in the first initiative specifically targeting female graduates.

Director of Flying Start, Dr Lorna Collins, told The Press that an overwhelming amount of applications for the course indicates the passion of female graduates.

She stated that those who are embarking on the course will be provided with help to start their own business or product idea, with the hope that over half will be set-up by the end of 2008.

'We support graduates by providing them with individual dedicated mentoring from experienced and successful female entrepreneurs,' Dr Collins said.

The women graduates will now receive 12 months of mentoring and support from the NCGE, along with a three-day residential programme.