Inspiring Entrepreneurs - International Women's Day | Glaze & Save

International Women’s Day will always have a special place at Glaze & Save, given that we are headed up by former British Female Inventor of the Year and Top Scot for the Environment Dr Tanya Ewing. In that spirit, we wanted to take a look at just a few of the inspiring female entrepreneurs from the social enterprise sector, who have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place.

1. Susan Aktemel

Susan Aktemel is a pioneering Scottish social entrepreneurs, launching Impact Arts in 1994 when the concept of social entrepreneurship was in its infancy. She continued to operate as the Chief Executive of Impact Arts for 18 years , taking it from sole trader to national charity. In 2014 Susan launched Homes4Good , Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agent.

2. Angela Ireland & Gabrielle Cluness

Angela Ireland and Gabrielle Cluness are the founders of MILK cafe in Glasgow’s vibrant and multicultural Govanhill. MILK café is at the centre of a social enterprise providing support, skills and training to female migrant, refugee and asylum seekers. As well as offering employability training and help with English language, the café also offers a range of classes and workshops for any woman to drop in and enjoy.

3. Sylvia Douglas

Sylvia Douglas is the founder and director of MsMissMrs a social engterprise that helps empower women and girls to move on from tough backgrounds. Having spent much of her teenage years in residential care and becoming a mum at just 15 , Sylvia has experienced first-hand the challenges that women can face finding opportunity in education and work. Since MsMissMrs was established in 2013, they have provided fully funded places for more than 200 girls and women on self-esteem and empowerment workshops. To support these activities, sells fun, quirky empowerment pants, with 3227 pairs sold and counting!

4. Deborah Whyte

Deborah Whyte is the community interest events management company Big Bright Star. Renowned for her experience in the in the social, public and charitable sectors and housing industry across the UK, Deborah operated Big Bright Star for many year before becoming Scotland’s first Social Enterprise, Event Management Company, focused exclusively on running events with a social purpose and creating positive social change. As well as running events that promote social change, Deborah creates opportunities by enabling individuals from underprivileged backgrounds and those with disabilities to operate and run events, gaining confidence, skills and experience.

5. Ashley Scotland

Ashley Scotland is the founder of Thriving Survivors , a unique training and support organisation that aims to empower, integrate and help to re-employ people who face barriers and social exclusion as a result of a traumatic event. Ashley’s own experience as a survivor of sexual and domestic abuse led her to realise that the resources and support she required for her own journey to recovery was not readily available. Thriving Survivors has gone on to secured three years’ core funding from the Scottish Government for its innovative programmes.

6. Debra Riddle

Debra Riddle founded Breadshare in 2011 to open up access to quality locally produced bread to her community. Breadshare champions using simple ingredients to create organic breads, including flour milled by RMR Milling in the Scottish Borders. Breadshare undertakes a number of activities including workshops for children and adults at its community hub in Portobello, and several sandwich shops in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

7. Hermine Makangu

Hermine Makangu is the founder of Mbikudi a social enterprise that supports children from low income backgrounds and ethnic minority women battling isolation, low self-esteem and depression through the sale of their natural organic range of hair and skin care products. They use hands-on group bonding activities bringing women together to produce natural organic body care products, recycled jewellery and also for social activities.

In addition, the main ingredients sourced from the African Farmers Corporative in Ghana which supports women’s empowerment and assists farmers in providing food and education for their families. https://mbikudi.co.uk/

8. Katrina McNab

Katrina McNab is the Chief Executive at the Pulteneytown People’s Project (PPP) since its establishment in 2003, where operations started with 1.5 staff members and a £10,000 budget. Today it employs 55 staff and has a turnover of over £750,000. The PPP delivers a variety of services across Caithness from housing support, to learning centres to a community centre. Katrina uncovered a passion for social policy on undertaking an Open University course at the age of 23, while raising two children. She also stood as an independent local councillor from 2004 to 2011.

9. Dana MacPhee

Dana MacPhee is the founder of the Uist Wool Mill , a social enterprise that spins local fleece into unusual yarns to supply weavers and craftspeople with the aim to revitalise the traditional island industry through creating employment, training and workspace using readily available local wool. Uist Wool has recently constructed the Wool Centre where skills, ideas, design and inspiration are shared by young and old, novices and experts, islanders and visitors alike, through training programmes, workshops and education.