The business world is getting a much-needed feminine touch as women in Sussex are starting companies and winning awards.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said the number of UK business launches would rise by 50 per cent if the start-up rate among women matched that of men.

Accountants and business advisers PKF said the gender imbalance in the business world could be altered if more women set up their own business.

Heather Buckley runs her own business providing training in IT and internet design.

She founded Silicon Beach Training in Brighton in March 2000 and has trained more than 2,200 individuals and almost 1,000 businesses and organisations.

Heather is in the running for a £10,000 prize in the Women Mean Business Awards, a search for Britain's top women entrepreneurs.

The awards were launched last month to mark the achievements of women who have turned their business dreams into a successful reality.

Heather said her partner Andy had been extremely supportive, even ploughing some of the proceeds of a business he sold into the new company.

She started her business with "a passion for teaching and learning, an obsession with the internet, a frustration with the system and an interest in business and politics".

She has a first-class honours degree in graphic design and a masters degree in digital media but she did not enjoy her first job working in a large corporation.

After a short stint as a lecturer she decided to go it alone and she rented a space in the Tindle Centre, Gloucester Road.

Working from an office in a cupboard, Heather developed and taught 80 per cent of the courses - three years later she employs 347 freelance trainers.

The company also offers heavily subsidised training to the unemployed and works with Aids charity Brighton Body Positive.

Heather said: "Setting up a business requires a lot of time and effort and in the beginning I suffered just about every teething problem. When you're starting out it wears you out mentally and physically."

She said being a woman had helped in some ways, adding: "It's easier to attract attention because of the small number of women entrepreneurs in IT. If you're successful it's easier to be noticed.

"The hardest thing was balancing my responsibilities to my two children with my business aspirations.

"It helps that both me and Andy are self-employed because it gives us the flexibility we need to keep that balance."

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who helped launch the awards, expects record numbers of women to start new businesses this year.

She said: "In the US the level of women's business ownership is twice that of the UK. One of my aims is to match, or even exceed, that.

"To do this, we must ensure that women-owned businesses, whatever their size, are valued and supported effectively."

Jools Viner runs SmartPass, which makes audio studio guides. She recently won the new venture award from Women In Publishing.

She set up the Brighton-based company three years ago with her brother after working for a number of years as a journalist.

She said: "Once we'd consulted the local business advice service we got the impression the majority of prospective entreprenuers were men, a number of whom didn't have great business ideas.

"I'd been a bit of a chicken up until I was 37 when I started working for myself.

"Being made redundant six years ago helped because I had the time to work out what I wanted to do - it was a complete eye opener.

"I worked for an educational publisher which was run by women. I thought if they could run a business and make a success of it so could I.

"I would say 'go for it' to any woman thinking of setting up their own business.

"Before you hand in your notice find out what people think about your idea.

"There are a lot of people out there who are really keen to pick up the phone and be enthusiastic for you and your business."

Jill Taylor, the driving force behind Taylored Nails, had always wanted to run her own business.

She opened a shop in Cliffe High Street, Lewes, earlier this year offering manicures, pedicures and trendy nail extensions.

Her venture is the result of determination, hard work and a little help from Alan Burdon, one of Eastbourne and District Enterprise Agency Ltd (Edeal) mentors.

Jill, who trained in London as a nail technician, has plied her trade across the world and discovered nail extensions were in demand abroad.

She could see an opportunity in the UK and started to research the market on her return.

Jill decided the best way forward was to start her own business with the Lewes salon and an in-store service in a Haywards Heath hairdressers.

Edeal advised her on accounting, promotion and health and safety.

She said: "The first few weeks have been super. We're already building our client base in and around the town. We've got some great ideas which we're sure will attract lots more customers and it's been good to have Edeal's help."

Alan Burdon was full of praise, saying: "Starting a business needs just the kind of determination and passion which Jill has shown but, even for someone as committed as she is, having a helping hand saves a lot of nailbiting."

Tuesday April 8 2003