More women in Swindon are starting up in business thanks to Women into Enterprise, run from the Small Business Hub at the Oakfield Campus of the University of Bath in Swindon, Walcot.

It finished its second year of business training for women at the end of March.

From making bespoke handbags, greetings cards, face painting and reflexology to catering and human resources consultancy, women are getting ready to start offering their service or product on the market.

These new entrepreneurs will join the many women who completed last year's course women such as Laura Campbell who has been running her health massage therapy business Hands of Thyme for about 18 months.

In common with many of the women, she already had a business background.

She said: "I found the course wonderful, gained a business mentor, found loads of support and people to bounce ideas off, but mostly it has allowed me to take some time out to focus on developing my business."

Park North resident Linda Willis, who has just completed this year's course, is just as enthusiastic. She has already started a holistic/beauty therapy business, Million Dollar Studio, with her sister Lana.

Linda said: "It has been fantastic. Although I had already planned on setting up a business it has made us think about areas of running a business that we would never have thought of on our own."

Women into Enterprise started in September 2004. The project, funded by the European Social Fund, is designed to support women who are thinking of starting their own business or in the early stages of running a business. Over the 18 months the project has run it has provided support for more than 100 women.

Alongside the business training, the project also offers free childcare support, IT courses, external speakers and networking opportunities.

The success of the project has led to further funding being granted from the European Social Fund to support a further 60 female entrepreneurs on a new course in September.

The Small Business Hub celebrated being nationally recognised as a Prowess Flagship Status organisation for the provision of high-quality, female-friendly business support services.

It is the first and only organisation in the south west to receive this honour.

"It has been a great 18 months for the project and the participants who have taken part," said Amar Basra, senior project officer for Women's Enterprise Support at the Small Business Hub.

"Running your own business can offer the flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home.

"That's why I think it is such an attractive option for so many women. Through the tools we give participants they are able to assess the viability of their business idea and produce plans to take their business idea forward."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the course starting in September, visit www.swindonwomen.co.uk or call 01793 328770.