Rural Business Bootcamp launched for Female Entrepreneurs

The Open University (OU) in Scotland and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have announced a new initiative to empower women in entrepreneurship with the launch of a Rural Business Bootcamp, set to take place on 23 and 30 June 2025 at the SRUC Barony Campus in Parkgate, Dumfries.

Designed specifically for women entrepreneurs living and working in rural Scotland, the free, two-day, on-campus programme is followed by 12 weeks of expert mentorship, resources, and access to business infrastructure. The bootcamp reflects both organisations’ shared commitment to addressing the systemic challenges faced by female founders, particularly outside urban centres.

Breaking down barriers for women in rural communities

Open to women at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey - from budding start-ups to established enterprises - the bootcamp will offer intensive, hands-on training in key areas such as business and financial planning, marketing strategy, social media engagement, and digital visibility. Sessions will also focus on helping participants future-proof and diversify their rural businesses.

To make the event as accessible as possible, participants will be offered free childcare for children aged three and over, a shuttle bus from Dumfries town centre, and an online orientation session to help them prepare.

Empowering women entrepreneurs is not only good for business - it’s good for the entire rural community.”
Bill Mackay, SRUC

Jane Grant, Depute Director of External Engagement and Partnerships at The Open University in Scotland, said:

"We know that women in rural and remote communities face specific challenges, from geographic isolation to limited access to business support. This bootcamp is about providing the practical tools and support women need to succeed.”

“Entrepreneurial education changes lives. By helping women harness their ideas and build sustainable rural businesses, we’re investing in Scotland’s communities - and its future.”

Bill Mackay, Programme Lead, Rural Business Management at Scotland’s Rural College, commented on the collaboration:

“We are proud to partner with The Open University in Scotland on this important initiative. At SRUC, we are deeply committed to supporting the rural economy, and this bootcamp offers a vital opportunity for women to access the resources and networks they need to thrive.

“Empowering women entrepreneurs is not only good for business - it’s good for the entire rural community.”

Continuing commitment

The bootcamp activities reflect the OU in Scotland’s long-term commitment to investing in innovation, education and opportunity across rural regions - not only but including Dumfries and Galloway where the University has an established partnership with the Crichton Campus, and in 2024 hosted the European Lunar Symposium, bringing together world-leading scientists, policymakers and guests from around the world.

Jane Grant adds:

“Bringing global events and local enterprise support to rural areas not only raises a region’s profile - it creates lasting economic and social impact, and we are proud to contributing to that momentum.”

Broader ambition: Pathways Forward

Bringing global events and local enterprise support to rural areas not only raises a region’s profile - it creates lasting economic and social impact.”
Jane Grant, OU in Scotland

The launch of the bootcamp is a direct outcome of The Open University in Scotland’s commitment to the Pathways Forward initiative, a national movement to promote gender equity in entrepreneurship. As a Pledge partner since August 2024, the OU in Scotland has committed to implement measurable actions supporting women entrepreneurs, including improving childcare access, expanding gender data transparency, and offering more flexible learning opportunities.

Pathways Forward founder, Ana Stewart, said:

“The Pathways Pledge calls on organisations to not just talk about change - but to deliver it."

“The OU in Scotland’s bootcamp exemplifies this kind of action-oriented leadership, and we are thrilled to see the rural community being brought into focus.”

The Pathways Forward initiative was born out of the Scottish Government’s Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship report, and it has rapidly grown into a collaborative movement involving public, private, and non-profit partners, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Converge, and Scottish Enterprise.

This new bootcamp arrives amid growing momentum around female entrepreneurship in Scotland. It also precedes the inaugural Female Founders Growth Summit, to be held on 5 September 2025 in Edinburgh - a key milestone for Pathways Forward and its pledge partners.

Open Enterprise Network

The launch of the bootcamp also coincides with the official rollout of the OU in Scotland’s new Open Enterprise Network (OEN) - a digital community and support platform for OU students, recent graduates, and staff with entrepreneurial ambitions.

The OEN provides free access to practical resources, including short courses on business skills, guidance on accessing external programmes and funding opportunities. It aims at offering a flexible, inclusive and low-barrier way for entrepreneurs to work with the right people and tools to grow their ideas.

To boost early-stage ventures, OU in Scotland is offering six microfinance awards of £2,500 through the OEN’s new Microfinance Competition, now open for applications.

How to get involved

• Register for the Rural Business Bootcamp by 13 June via the Bootcamp registration form.
• Apply for the OEN Microfinance Competition by 8 June via the Microfinance Competition form.
• Anyone in the OU Scotland community interested in enterprise can join the Open Enterprise Network via LinkedIn and our OEN homepage.

As the OU in Scotland continues its work to create accessible pathways to entrepreneurship, this dual launch is a powerful signal of its commitment to helping entrepreneurs across Scotland.

28 May 2025