A £25m fund launched by the government to drive up the number of women setting up businesses is being plagued by confusion and mis-communication between ministers and the organisations tasked with managing the scheme.
Alerted to the issue by Sue Harrison, founder of Student Gems - an online service for student, freelance and temporary jobs - BusinessZone.co.uk has uncovered a series of inconsistencies in the information being given to entrepreneurs about how to access the fund and exactly how much money is available.
Small business minister Shriti Vadera launched the Aspire Fund in November last year pledging that it would help to unlock "a wealth of untapped talent...that could significantly boost the economy in these uncertain times". She added that it also demonstrated "the government's strong commitment to support women in business".
Harrison, who established Student Gems in 2007, put her company forward for the match funding scheme in December after receiving advice from her Business Link advisor that the £75,000 she has on board from two business angels made her eligible.
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