06 Mar 2016
Could you be Scotland's next female angel investor?
Aberdein Considine Managing Partner Jacqueline Law has urged north-east female entrepreneurs to consider a second career as a potential angel investor.
The commercial law specialist said there was a huge bank of successful entrepreneurs who had thrived in oil and gas and other major industries, who could make a huge contribution in supporting emerging businesses.
Scotland’s first conference for female angel investors and entrepreneurs gets underway in Edinburgh today (Monday 7th March). Investing Women’s Ambition & Growth conference brings together 200 start-up and early growth businesses who are seeking support from established investment angels.
Harnessing female talent
Jacqueline said: “I know from personal experience as a corporate lawyer that we have many successful females in Aberdeen and the north-east who have excelled in the demanding oil and gas sector.
"A number have realised their assets, may now be looking for a fresh challenge, and aside from any financial resource have years of hard earned experience and vital skills which make them perfect angel material.
“It would be of great benefit to the next generation of entrepreneurs if this wealth of talent could be harnessed to nourish and encourage the many exciting young businesses in our midst.”
Conference
With Aberdeen Considine co-sponsoring the two-day conference, Mrs Law is hosting a workshop for entrepreneurs on ‘Structuring and Scaling For Growth’.
Other high-profile business women taking part in the event include unicorn company FanDuel’s Lesley Eccles, Virgin StartUp chief executive Mei Shui, and Scottish Enterprise chief Dr Lena Wilson.
In Scotland only 1 in 20 out of an estimated 1200 angel investors are women, but Investing Women chief executive officer Jackie Waring believes the gap can be narrowed over the next five years to bring the country in line with the US where representation is 1 in 4.
Recent research on behalf of veteran angel group Archangels Investors found that every £1 of investment it had created since its foundation in 1992 had generated the equivalent of £14 in turnover, equating to a £1.3 billion uplift to the economy.
Jackie Waring said: “Based on the £44 million raised with the support of angel investment in Scotland last year, if we can get close to the US level of female investors, the additional investment generated could be worth £140 million per year to the economy. That will take time and a lot of hard work but it has already been done in the USA so why not here?
Commercial support for businesses
Aberdein Considine offers a complete package of corporate and commercial legal support for businesses. To speak to Jacqueline or a member of her team, call 0333 0044333 or click here.