Prime Highlights
- A new InspireHER webinar series aims to help women across Scotland explore entrepreneurship through free training, guidance and coaching.
- The initiative encourages women to build confidence, recognise their strengths and take their first steps toward starting their own businesses.
Key Facts
- The programme is organised by Business Gateway with funding support from the Scottish Government.
- The webinar series will run throughout March and was launched to coincide with International Women’s Day 2026, offering four interactive online sessions for women interested in starting a business.
Background:
A new webinar series aimed at encouraging more women to explore entrepreneurship is set to launch across Scotland this month, offering free guidance, coaching and practical support to those interested in starting a business. The programme, called InspireHER, is being delivered by Business Gateway with funding support from the Scottish Government and will coincide with celebrations marking International Women’s Day 2026.
Running throughout March, the InspireHER initiative is designed to help women who are considering starting a business, as well as those who may not yet view entrepreneurship as a realistic career option. The organisers aim to build confidence, provide practical knowledge and encourage participants to take their first steps toward self-employment or launching a new venture.
The programme will feature a series of four interactive online sessions led by business coach Nic Henderson. Each session will focus on equipping participants with useful skills and insights needed to start and manage a business. Organisers say the webinars will combine practical learning with supportive discussions to help attendees turn their ideas into action.
According to Gail Macgregor, many women have the skills, ideas and determination to start a business but often lack confidence or feel unsure about how to begin. She said the InspireHER series aims to reduce these barriers and show that starting a business can be both possible and rewarding. The initiative aims to encourage participants to explore new opportunities and gain the confidence to take the next step toward starting a business.
Kate Forbes said the government remains committed to addressing the low number of women in the start-up business community. She added that cooperation between public and private partners is important to create more opportunities for women in business.
The InspireHER webinars are free and open to women across Scotland. Women can join whether they already have a business idea or are simply interested in self-employment. Organisers hope the programme will motivate more women to start businesses and help create a more diverse and inclusive business environment.
