The 51% Club, a peer community for female entrepreneurs, has announced its expansion to Worcester, with support from Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. With a growing network of over 700 female founders across the West Midlands, this expansion is set to bring further opportunities to scale businesses, including access to exclusive mentor matchmaking and a signature Female Founder Growth Programme.
Founded by Tara Attfield-Tomes, a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and PR expert, The 51% Club was built to help women-led businesses flourish. This expansion into Worcester follows nine months of growth for the community, which is expanding across the UK, starting with Warwickshire this week and closely followed by Worcestershire on 13 February.
Since launching in early 2024, the thriving community has hosted a range of events including a full-day conference for female founders; brand brunch events with Absolute Collagen and Daye; and monthly expert masterclasses. The 51% Club has also partnered with leading venture capital firm Midven to create a first-of-its-kind accelerator that will see five female founders embark on a 12-month tailored programme with the chance of pitching for a share for £2 million investment.
Last year also saw the launch of The 51% Club’s Female Founder Growth Programme, which was delivered in partnership with Oxford Innovation and Real World Consultancy. Emma Fishlock, founder of Worcester-based Real World Consultancy, will continue to support with the delivery of the 8 and 12-week programme in Worcester and Warwickshire.
The 51% Club’s expansion is being supported by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Worcestershire Growth Hub, which will aid in supporting female founders in the area.
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“It is fantastic to see the 51% Club expanding into Worcestershire, providing valuable support for female founders in our county. In Worcestershire, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity and resources to achieve their business ambitions. Initiatives like the 51% Club are essential to turning that vision into reality.
“I strongly encourage female founders in Worcestershire to get involved with the 51% Club, and crucially if you’re in business, no matter the size, sector, or stage of your business, the Worcestershire Growth Hub is here to support you every step of the way.”
Tara Attfield-Tomes, Founder of The 51% Club, added:
“We’re super excited to be expanding into to Worcester, further supporting female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and generate wealth. Our launch on 13 February – which just happens to be Galentine’s Day – marks an exciting moment of growth for the community and is proof that when women come together our power and potential are truly unlimited!
We’re so grateful to have the support of Worcestershire LEP, as well as a continued partnership with Real World Consultancy, which has accelerated the growth of our first cohort for the Female Founders Growth Programme. We expect to see amazing things come from Worcester’s female founders, so be prepared to keep your eyes peeled for the smashing of some glass ceilings!”
Emma Fishlock, founder of Real World Consultancy, shared:
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The 51% Club. From the moment I met Tara, I knew her vision was something special, and together, we could create real impact. The growth programme in Birmingham set a new standard for content, engagement, and results, and the support and events from The 51% Club are unlike anything else I’ve seen. Myself and the rest of the RWC team are incredibly excited to bring this to Worcestershire.”
The 51% Cub is a free-to-join female founder peer community, further removing barriers to entry that disproportionately affect female founders. For more information, visit www.the51percent.club.
To find out more about the support available to help your business in Worcestershire, contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team on 01905 677888 or [email protected]