News

Aspiring female entrepreneurs and businesswomen are set to receive a boost thanks to Women in Football's new partnership with global small business platform Xero.

The Women in Football Entrepreneur Mentorship Programme powered by Xero will provide promising startup founders with a complete package of vital support, in a 'game of two halves' format.

The first half of the programme will develop participants' enterprise skills, knowledge and professional networks, while the second will provide one-to-one mentoring by matching up the entrepreneurs with Women in Football members who have already built successful businesses of their own.

Three WIF members already using Xero to help manage their business finances are Helen Hardy, founder of the innovative women's sportswear brand Foudys; Francesca Brown, the Managing Director and CEO at Goals4Girls, a project to improve girls’ well-being and educational outcomes through football; and Laura Youngson, CEO of the IDA Sports company providing football boots designed specially for women.

All three appear in Xero's 'Dream Bigger' campaign, currently running across news media and TV as part of the company's partnership with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and the England senior women’s team, the Lionesses.

Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison said: "We love what Xero are doing to highlight women who dream big, in football and business, so we're really delighted to be linking up with them on the Women in Football Entrepreneur Mentorship Programme.

"WIF members are full of creativity, and the programme, together with mentor support, will be just what's needed to help them progress their ideas into viable businesses and make those dreams come true."

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software platform that connects small business owners with their accountant or bookkeeper, banks and an ecosystem of apps and financial services to help them run their business. Through a range of partnerships, Xero is also aiming to empower and champion women in business and football.

As well as Women in Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023,™ these partnerships include the Lionesses, England Football, and Lewes FC.

Xero's UK Brand Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Sam Daniels said: "We’re thrilled to be working with Women in Football to support the dreams of women in the business side of the game. Both our organisations are powered by the small business community, and we can't wait to follow the stories of the businesswomen whose great ideas we help to nurture."

Ebru Köksal, Women in Football's Chair, added: "Startups can often fail not because of a problem with their basic concept, but because entrepreneurs sometimes lack the technical knowledge or business network needed for their enterprise to break through.

"With Xero's business know-how and Women in Football's specialist expertise in our field, this programme is fine-tuned to maximise the chances of success for female entrepreneurs."

WIF members who are interested in receiving support through the Women in Football Entrepreneur Mentorship Programme powered by Xero can apply online now - the deadline for applying is 23:59 on Sunday, 20 August 2023. Places on this programme are limited to 11. Non-members can apply to join WIF for free.

Share this article