Transatlantic Opportunities to Unlock Women's Economic Potential in Scotland

Our CEO Carolyn Currie addressed the Annual Leadership Conference of Women's Business Centers in Washington DC on 24 September 2025 in a bid to further explore the strength of the women’s business centre model of support.

The United States of America has an established national network of 150 women's business centres and women-led businesses represent 39% of all enterprises in the US - a benchmark that could add £17 billion annually to the Scottish economy if replicate

WES's attendance at the Washington conference marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s work to identify global best practice in women’s entrepreneurship. WES is exploring opportunities to establish reciprocal trading relationships between Scotland's Women's Business Centre platform, the women's business centres across the United States and other women’s business organisations.

Carolyn Currie, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Scotland commented;

"Our women’s business centre platform has already shown clear promise in Scotland, and the opportunity to connect with the established network America opens up exciting possibilities for reciprocal trade and shared learning. We look forward to insightful discussions about pathways for women entrepreneurs to access new markets, secure funding, and establish business partnerships that will drive economic growth in local communities on both continents."

WES’s presence at the Conference comes as new research reveals the transformative potential of crowdfunding for women-led businesses. The WES crowdfunding platform, subject of a new University of Glasgow study commissioned by The Productivity Institute, raised £28,695 across eight Scottish enterprises during a pilot programme in late 2023. Developed as a new phase

of Scotland’s Women's Business Centre, the crowdfunding platform demonstrated how alternative finance routes can unlock economic opportunities for female entrepreneurs and has potential for both sides of the Atlantic.

The pilot programme revealed that businesses in the food and drink sector raised nearly three-quarters of the total funds, while participants across all sectors reported substantial wider benefits including enhanced brand awareness, improved market visibility, increased confidence and stronger community support. The research findings highlight that successful campaigns leveraged strong social media presence, clear messaging, and active community-building—skills that translate directly to international market expansion opportunities.

The initiative aligns with the Scottish Government's £50 million commitment to a women's business centre model made in the 2021- 2022 Programme for Government. WES continues to advocate for the realisation of this commitment and believes benefits will include addressing the 61% post start-up rate of attrition for women-led businesses in Scotland and transforming economic contribution.

Carolyn Currie continued,

“We have long admired the achievements of the US women’s business centres and look forward to sharing our experiences from the platform we have developed in Scotland including the new crowdfunding capability. The research shows that with proper support infrastructure, mentorship, and policy backing, crowdfunding can be a game-changer for women-led SMEs.  By developing our relationship with US women's business centres, we can accelerate learning, reduce barriers, and create a transatlantic network that enables female entrepreneurship at scale."

The success of the WES crowdfunding platform in Scotland—raising funds across diverse sectors from sustainable fashion to intellectual property services—demonstrates its adaptability to various business contexts and markets, making it an ideal foundation for international expansion. WES anticipates that initial pilot collaborations could launch within six months, with reciprocal services operational by 2026.

About The Research

The study Crowdfunding as an alternative way for women-led SMEs in Scotland to access finance was authored by Daniel Williams and Bridgette Wessels from the University of Glasgow and commissioned by The Productivity Institute. The research examined WES's pilot crowdfunding project conducted with the Women's Business Centre platform in Scotland.