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Swindon Event Empowers South Asian Women to Launch First Businesses

Prime Highlights- 

  • Swindon community event empowers South Asian women to launch first businesses during Heritage Month celebration.  
  • Event raises 400 pounds for Prospect Hospice while showcasing family recipes, crafts and creative talents.  

Key Facts- 

  • Sarah nearly sells out signature tres leches cakes and desserts at her Bite and Bloom debut.  
  • Arry Zuberi launches Chai and Chat venture inspired by Covid-19 lockdown conversations. 

Background- 

 A community event marking South Asian Heritage Month has given aspiring female entrepreneurs in Swindon the confidence to take their first steps into business.

Held at the Bangladesh Centre on Manchester Road, the event brought together women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian backgrounds to showcase businesses built around family recipes, handmade crafts and creative hobbies, while also raising 400 pounds for Prospect Hospice.

For several participants, the event marked their first time selling products to the public. Among them was Sarah, who recently launched her dessert business Bite and Bloom after years of encouragement from family and friends.

She explained that she had struggled to find her first step into business until a social media post from fellow organizer Repi encouraged her to begin. By the middle of the afternoon, Sarah had nearly sold out of her signature tres leches cakes, brownies and desserts.

Organizer Zahida said many aspiring entrepreneurs already possess the necessary skills but often lack the confidence to get started, adding that the event aimed to build that confidence and help women launch their businesses.

Stalls featured handcrafted resin gifts, personalized keepsakes, homemade desserts and traditional South Asian chai. Arry Zuberi introduced her venture Chai and Chat, inspired by conversations during the Covid-19 lockdown, describing it as a meeting point where people gather over chai to share stories and support one another.

Co-organizer Repi Begum said providing a platform helps businesses grow regardless of sales, emphasizing that stallholders support and uplift one another. Organizers hope the event inspires more women to expand their businesses into markets, craft fairs, care homes and festivals across Swindon.