A taster session for a course to help women fine tune their business skills will take place on April 28.

The session, at Colchester Business Enterprise Agency’s (Colbea) centre, in George Williams Way, Colchester, will offer women from across Essex an insight into a six- week fully-funded course that will lead to them establishing their own businesses.

Funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland as part of its Inspiring Women in Enterprise grant, 20 women will learn about business planning, finance, marketing and more.

With mentoring from businesswomen, free office space and facilities to help test your trade, the Small Steps, Big Changes course is the second of five which will run throughout the year, helping 100 women launch their own businesses.

Mandie Holgate, who runs the Business Woman’s Network in Colchester, is one of the programme’s trainers and said: “This programme is a perfect example of what I campaign for every day – that we have so much potential out there for women to be successful in business.

“Small Steps, Big Changes opens a door for women to turn their skills and ideas in to viable businesses and I have been inspired by every person I have met so far.” Graduates from the first course, which was completed recently, have set up businesses including a doggy day care centre, eateries, a physiotherapist and a copywriter.

One graduate, Debbie Thomas, launched Social Sleuth, a social media consultancy for the hospitality industry. She said: “I’m a qualified Google expert, so I know I am good at what I do, but the course has taught me what I need to be a success in actually running a business.

“Learning about business planning, finance and marketing has been essential and having the ongoing access to training, services and mentoring over the next year will be invaluable.

“I already have my first clients and I am now looking forward to growing my business.”

* If you have a business idea and would like to find out more, the next Small Steps, Big Changes taster session takes place on Monday, April 28, from 10am to noon at the Colchester Business Centre. Contact Jane Green on 01206 548833 to register.