In Memory of Stacey Withington

Overview:
SheInspire’s Stepping Stones is a ground-breaking initiative addressing the critical lack of funding and support for women entrepreneurs, particularly those running small, women-led micro-businesses. While women entrepreneurs receive less than 2% of venture capital funding globally, most of this is directed towards high-growth, high-tech businesses, leaving small and micro-businesses virtually invisible. These businesses, often the backbone of local economies and communities, struggle to access the funding and resources they need to thrive.
SheInspire’s Stepping Stones fills this void by focusing on women entrepreneurs overlooked by traditional funding systems. Building on the success of the Stepping Stone Award, now in its fifth year, the initiative empowers women entrepreneurs with a combination of seed grants, practical training, and celebratory recognition, ensuring they receive both financial and non-financial support to grow their ventures.
Unlike other programmes, we focus on grassroots women entrepreneurs—those running micro-businesses that create significant impact locally but often lack visibility on larger platforms. By connecting these women with benefactors who are deeply committed to making a difference, SheInspire’s Stepping Stones offers a transformative model for sustainable growth, empowerment, and recognition.
Key Objectives:
- Seed Grants – Provide £1,000 in cash funding to women entrepreneurs to help them achieve their business goals.
- Catalyst Programmes – Deliver £500 in-kind support, including training, mentoring, and access to SheInspire’s Upskill Her modules.
- Milestone Celebrations – Celebrate funded entrepreneurs through quarterly events and an annual gala dinner, where their achievements are recognised, and one recipient wins the She & Stacey Stepping Stone Award at the SheInspires Awards.