Access Zones
Where women, communities and institutions meet around practical support.
Access Zones are a core part of the HWS model. They are designed to move engagement beyond speeches, leaflets and passive information-sharing. Each Access Zone creates a structured space where women and communities can meet relevant organizations, ask questions, discover services, access guidance and identify practical next steps.
Purpose & Objectives
The purpose of the Access Zones is to create a practical bridge between women, communities, institutions and support providers.
Inclusive Outreach
Improve access to information, services and opportunities
Structured Guidance
Help women discover support they may not know exists
Institutional Synergy
Create direct engagement between institutions and communities
Knowledge Exchange
Support referral, signposting and follow-up pathways
Impact Measurement
Generate insight around barriers, needs and opportunities
Holistic Well-being
Build partnerships that continue beyond the convening
Access Zone Directory
Navigate through our specialized zones to find the resources and experts you need to thrive.
Health & Wellbeing
Focused on women’s health awareness, mental wellbeing, prevention, emotional resilience, menopause, menstrual health, caring responsibilities, healthy ageing and practical signposting into trusted health and wellbeing services
Who you’ll meet
- menopause specialists
- occupational health
- wellbeing organisations
- healthcare providers
Enterprise
Focused on helping women explore, start, sustain and grow businesses through practical access to enterprise advice, mentoring, accelerators, business support organisations, innovation programmes, social enterprise pathways and founder networks.
Who you’ll meet
- Business Gateway
- Firstport
- Scottish Women in Business
- Enterprise advisers
- Founder support organisations
Funding & Finance
Focused on improving financial confidence, funding readiness and access to capital through practical conversations around banking, grants, investment, responsible borrowing, financial resilience, enterprise finance and long-term economic participation.
Who you’ll meet
- Grant Makers
- Financial Advisers
Education & Progression Pathways
Focused on helping women access learning, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong education opportunities that strengthen career progression, enterprise development, leadership and future workforce participation.
Who you’ll meet
- Edinburgh Napier University
- West Lothian College
- universities
- colleges
- executive education providers
- skills programmes
Career, Confidence & Employability
Focused on supporting women to enter, return to and progress within the workforce through career guidance, confidence building, interview preparation, leadership development, employability services and practical routes into sustainable work.
Who you’ll meet
- Black Professionals UK
- employability providers
- recruiters
- employers
- coaching organisations
- career advisers
Business Infrastructure
Focused on providing the practical foundations that help businesses start, operate and grow successfully through legal, financial, digital, insurance, compliance, intellectual property, technology and professional advisory services.
Who you’ll meet
- Vivid Financial Solutions
- Codefreeiq
- Datakirk Digital Sistas
- digital providers
- AI solutions
- compliance experts
- business consultants
Civic Voice, Community & Advocacy
Focused on strengthening participation through community leadership, inclusion, equality, advocacy and trusted local support, ensuring women can access services, influence systems and build stronger connections within their communities.
Who you’ll meet
- The Scottish Women’s Convention
- Adelphe Connect CIC
- community organisations
- migrant support organisations
- equality bodies
- advocacy groups
- local authorities
- third-sector partners
Visibility, Marketplace & SME
Focused on celebrating and strengthening women-led businesses by creating opportunities for visibility, customer engagement, collaboration, procurement conversations and market access while showcasing products, services and community enterprise.
Who you’ll meet
- Women-led SMEs
- founders
- social enterprises
- community businesses
- creative industries
- professional services
- marketplace exhibitors
Strategic Partners
Access Zones are designed for organisations working across women’s participation, health, enterprise, employability, finance, learning, inclusion, leadership, technology, advocacy and community development.
- NHS and public health organizations
- Scottish Government-facing bodies and public agencies
- Enterprise agencies and business support organizations
- Financial institutions and funders
- Employers & professional networks
- Universities, colleges & research bodies
- Charities & advocacy organizations
- Legal, financial and advisory professionals
Participation
Organisations can participate in ways that match their mission, expertise and capacity.
Host a Zone
Take ownership of a specialized thematic area and lead the discourse with your organization's expertise.
Provide Advisory
Offer one-on-one or group sessions to provide technical or strategic guidance to delegates.
Share Resources
Contribute whitepapers, tools, or frameworks to our digital resource library for long-term access.
Delivering practical sessions
Delivering practical sessions
Offering signposting
Offering signposting and referral support
Insight Session
Taking part in panels, roundtables or insight sessions
Sponsor Information
Access Zone sponsorship allows organizations to align visibly with a defined area of social and economic impact. This is suitable for partners who want to support women’s participation while also demonstrating commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, enterprise, skills, community engagement and responsible growth.
- Website, event and social media recognition
- Alignment with a named Access Zone
- Direct engagement with delegates and stakeholders
- Speaking, panel or roundtable opportunities where appropriate
- Inclusion in post-event reporting and impact communications
- Evidence of community-facing partnership activity
The Value of Connection
For women and delegates
- Easier access to trusted information
- Direct contact with relevant organizations
- Practical guidance and signposting
- Confidence to take the next step
- Connection to enterprise, wellbeing, leadership and support pathways
For institutions and partners
- Direct engagement with target communities
- Better understanding of lived experience and unmet need
- Stronger outreach and inclusion
- Confidence to take the next step
- Connection to enterprise, wellbeing, leadership and support pathways
