A Bristol company aiming to improve the lives of neurodivergent people has secured free workspace and business support after winning a competition.
Self Agency advises organisations on how to create inclusive workplaces for staff with different learning processes. Founded by entrepreneur Devon Lowndes, the company has been selected as the winner of a contest which was looking to support early-stage, woman-owned businesses in the city and the wider South West.
Bristol-based design agency Istoria Group launched the competition, which was open to enterprises operating across all sectors, on International Women’s Day on March 8.
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After whittling down the entries to four finalists, Self Agency has been chosen to receive rent-free office space at Istoria Group’s headquarters at Bristol Paintworks. The company will also get a free website design and build, a brand refresh and mentoring to help with its development.
Sam Rowe, chief executive of Istoria Group, said: “We received a fantastic set of entries and were inspired by the number of amazing women out there fighting for social progress and to diminish inequality.
“We picked four finalists, all of whom were highly deserving, but in the end it was Devon Lowndes who stood out because of the clarity of her vision, her commitment and ambition. I am quite sure that as well as helping Devon move forward, we will also learn a great deal ourselves in the process, with that knowledge also going on to benefit our agencies and our work across the board.”
Ms Lowndes said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won, especially having met the other great finalists at the announcement ceremony! For me, one of the best things about Istoria Group’s Incubator Hub programme is how accessible it was to apply for as a person with ADHD.
“I could tell at once it was a friendly and accessible organisation with a really open outlook. I know it’ll be an environment that offers trust and flexibility, as well as creative and business expertise. I can’t wait to be part of it!”
The other finalists were online safety firm Better Together, student support venture Bristol Achieve and graphic design agency Sassy Sisters Studio.
The initiative was supported by the Black South West Network (BSWN) and local social enterprise Babbasa, which helps disadvantaged young people from ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds into work, education and business.
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