Niti Aayog's WEP Collaborates with Urban Company to Empower Women

Niti Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) has joined forces with Urban Company to uplift women salon and beauty parlour owners. This collaboration, announced on Friday, aims to empower women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the beauty and wellness sector, driving their growth and success.

Launch of Award-to-Reward Initiative

Under its award-to-reward initiative, WEP has introduced a pilot program designed to assist women entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses. This initiative is tailored to address critical needs in the beauty and wellness ecosystem, providing targeted support and resources.

Comprehensive Training and Support

The program will offer training to women entrepreneurs across six essential areas:

1. Skilling - Enhancing technical and managerial capabilities.

2. Legal and Compliance - Guidance on adhering to regulations.

3. Access to Finance - Facilitating financial resources and tools.

4. Market Access - Helping entrepreneurs reach broader audiences.

5. Business Development - Strategies for sustainable growth.

6. Mentorship and Networking - Connecting with industry experts and peers.

This multifaceted approach aims to equip women MSMEs with the tools needed for long-term success.

Insights from Baseline Study

A baseline study conducted by MicroSave Consulting identified four sectors with over 100,000 women MSMEs: beauty and wellness, textile manufacturing, retail trade, and food and beverages. The findings provided a foundation for the pilot program, focusing initially on beauty and wellness to create scalable templates for nationwide application.

Urban Company’s Role in the Initiative

Urban Company, a leading player in the beauty and wellness industry, will lead the program’s implementation. The company will work alongside key stakeholders to identify women working in micro-units and provide the necessary resources to support their business growth.

Scaling the Impact Nationwide

The pilot program aims to develop standardized processes and gather insights that can be replicated across sectors. By leveraging learnings from this initiative, WEP intends to scale its efforts to empower women MSMEs across India.

Evolution of WEP as a Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurs

Established in 2018 by Niti Aayog as an aggregator platform, the Women Entrepreneurship Platform transitioned into a public-private partnership model in 2022. This shift has allowed WEP to enhance its impact, creating innovative programs and collaborations to support women entrepreneurs across various industries.

By joining hands with Urban Company, WEP continues its mission to foster inclusive economic growth and unlock opportunities for women-led businesses in India.