A Bristol-based entrepreneur has been awarded an exclusive mentoring session with Baroness Karren Brady.
Tina Cox, founder of sustainable stationary brand Dapple pop studio, was chosen from more than 1,600 entrants to win the session with the high-profile business woman and star of BBC series The Apprentice .
Ms Cox founded the company in London in 2019 after working in luxury retail for more than 15 years, before moving to Bristol where she has grown the venture into a design studio.
The eco-conscious brand creates greeting cards, wedding stationery, paper props and festive décor from biodegradable materials which can be replanted after use. This year, the company will be launching new products, expanding its existing range, including into wholesale.
The competition was held as part of a wider scheme to help female entrepreneurs overcome sexism and gender bias in business.
It comes as its organiser insurance firm Simply Business found the number of female-owned small businesses set up in Bristol increased by more than 50% between 2018-2021.
Despite this, the study found one in three (32%) female entrepreneurs have experienced sexism as a business owner, while one in five (19%) have also experienced gender inequality and unequal access to opportunities.
Overall, more than 90% of female entrepreneurs surveyed said gender bias and inequality is prevalent in business, with a third (33%) describing it as “widespread” or “severe”.
Ms Cox said: “Launching my own business forced me to face my fears straight on, continuously needing to overcome low confidence and worry of judgement from others. Having lots of female friends who also run businesses helps so much – we talk things through and encourage each other to overcome barriers and move forward.
"Winning an hour with Karren Brady is an absolute dream come true as she's such an icon for female entrepreneurs. I'm eager to learn from her vast experience in the business world, and I'm so open to hear how Karren would move my business forward. I have no doubt I'll have a lot of questions for the session!"
More than third (38%) of female entrepreneurs who took part in the study called for more one-to-one mentorship from a business expert, alongside support and advice with funding.
A further third (33%) called for more tips and advice from female leaders in their industry and two in five (41%) female business owners called for the opportunity to network with other women business owners.
Bea Montoya, chief operating officer at Simply Business, said: “It's vital that we tackle the worrying levels of gender bias and inequality so that we can empower even more women to go it alone. For those that have taken the leap, we must do everything we can to ensure their businesses thrive.
“Small businesses are crucial to the UK economy, and will prove pivotal to our economic recovery from the pandemic. We’re thrilled to offer Tina Cox an exclusive, one-on-one mentoring session with Baroness Karren Brady. Karren is a passionate champion of women in business, and will be able to support and guide Tina through the next phase of her business journey.”
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