SBWC Enables Students to Become Successful Entrepreneurs

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA), is looking to partner with universities and leading educational institutions in order to guide deserving and committed students into becoming part of the SBWC community. This will allow students to avail some of the council’s prominent services and programmes, which will help them kickstart their careers.

‘Students Today, Entrepreneurs Tomorrow’, SBWC’s University outreach campaign, was launched this  October targeted skilled students from selected universities.  In the first phase, experts from SBWC visited universities in the emirate to network with students in order to introduce them to its programmes and upcoming events.

The first outreach visit was held at the Higher College of Technology – Sharjah, where SBWC shared with participating students some of the council’s programmes participation opportunities in exhibitions and events. They also organised specialised business-related consultations for students who already own businesses. 

Some of the advantages of becoming an SBWC member were shared with the students, which include access to workshops and programmes; consultancy and assistance with setting up a business in Sharjah and support throughout their participation in regional exhibitions, forums and any events that provide business expansion opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The SBWC team also conducted a survey among the students to assess their requirements in terms of services and workshops in order to support them better. 

Financial expert Moza Al Khayyal led a session on how students can start their own business, which also included the basics of investing and saving. SBWC Membership Manager, Mariam Bin Al Shaikh, took the students through the procedure of becoming a member and also informed them of the various programmes and services available for them.

Speaking about the outreach effort, Mariam Bin Al Shaikh said: “The student outreach campaign is an organic development of SBWC’s vision to support women entrepreneurs, start-ups, and members to succeed in the market by upskilling them, providing them with more opportunities to network at different exhibitions and forums, and facilitating the growth of their businesses.” 

She added: “This campaign will allow us to better understand what the new generation requires in terms of services and workshops. In turn, this will also help us provide them with the necessary support, for those who wish to become young entrepreneurs, when deciding to be part of the SBWC community. It is an attempt to tap into students’ potential which they can then use to help strengthen the local economy and boost national growth. We aim to support their growth beyond the walls of their classrooms by helping them identifying their skills.”

Those interested in becoming SBWC members can register via email membership@sbwc.ae,  or through the application "Sharjah Business Women Council", or by contacting the Council via the following number 0551237292.

Since its inception in 2002, Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has dedicated its efforts to drive full integration of businesswomen in the economy and promote a culture of sustainable female entrepreneurship in the Emirate of Sharjah - UAE.

The Council’s holistic approach to supporting female-owned and led businesses includes assisting businesswomen in the process of setting up their businesses in Sharjah, forging partnerships with government and private organisations in the UAE and abroad, and offering various exposure opportunities to engage potential and established businesswomen in Sharjah.

Sharjah Business Women Council is one of three affiliates of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment.