Women’s Enterprise
Over one million women in the UK work for themselves and
women-owned enterprises contribute approximately £70 billion to the
national economy. 34% of the newly self-employed are women compared
to 27% of those currently self-employed. In the Northwest
alone female early stage entrepreneurial activity between 2002 and
2007 has increased from 1.5% to 3.4%.
However there is still considerable room for
improvement. Despite the rise in the numbers of women involved
in enterprise activity in recent years, only 14% of businesses with
employees are led by women, with two men starting up in business to
every one woman.
Tackling this gender disparity will not only improve the
number of women setting up their own businesses but will also
be a major contributing factor to the future economic growth of
region.
The Government’s enterprise strategy released in March
2008 highlights the importance of engaging more women in
enterprise. It sets out several initiatives to encourage more
female entrepreneurial activity in the UK. The Northwest’s Regional
Economic Strategy (RES) also identifies women as a group with
different business support needs, and with huge potential to
increase the number of new enterprises. The Northwest
Enterprise Strategy further reflects this.
In response to a national drive to create a 1000 strong
national network of inspirational women entrepreneurs, the NWDA
launched the Women’s Ambassador Campaign in the Northwest.
Since 2007 over 140 female entrepreneurs from the region have
signed up as ambassadors. Find out more about becoming a Women’s
Enterprise Ambassador
The NWDA has also established the Northwest Women’s Enterprise Forum
(NWWEF). The NWEF acts and an advisory group which
to increase the number of women starting up and growing their
own businesses in the region.
Northwest Women in Business Awards 2009
Building on the great success of the inaugural
ceremony in March 2008 the Northwest Women's Enterprise Forum
(NWWEF), in partnership with the NWDA, has launched the Northwest
Women in Business Awards 2009, which will again bring together some
of region’s most innovative and successful female-led companies and
recognise and reward their achievements and successes.
By celebrating those women who are already making their mark,
recognising and rewarding them for achieving that success, the
event aims to inspire and encourage more women to consider
enterprise as a career and increase the number of women starting up
and growing businesses in the Northwest. Download an entry form
below.
Northwest Women in
Business Awards Entry Form
Northwest Women in Business Awards
Entry Form - word version
For more infromation about the event and to register to attend
the 2009 NW Women in Business Awards please visit www.nwwomeninbusinessawards.co.uk
If you are thinking of setting up a business or are looking for
advice to help your existing business grow please contact Business
Link NW on 0845 00 66 888 or visit www.businesslinknw.co.uk
Women's Enterprise Facts
* If the UK had the same rates of female entrepreneurship
as the US we could have 900 more businesses in the country
* Women-owned businesses contribute about £60 billion to the
economy (Gross Value Added)
* The Annual Small Business Survey 2006 reports that 13% of UK
enterprises are majority women-led in the UK. This compares to 30%
of the total in the US.
* If women started businesses at the same rate as men, the UK would
see 150,000 more businesses per annum
* Most of the one million self employed women in the UK are in the
service sector. (Labour Force Survey)
* Women are more likely to have a fear of failure than men, (39.2
percent) compared with (32.6 percent). (BERR)