Women Opt to be their own Boss

According to a new survey, conducted on behalf of the Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harmon, women are setting up their own businesses to get more flexibility between work and family life.

"Women want to call the shots by running their own business. They're recognising that being their own boss gives them control and allows them to balance their work and family life.

"Mothers often tear their hair out trying to balance earning a living with bringing up their children, and need more flexibility from their work. Setting up their own business can be the solution.

"But we need to encourage more women to take the plunge. Men are almost twice as likely as women to start a new business. That's why we are determined to close this gap by providing solid support and encouragement."

Additional findings from the survey include:

* More than three quarters (78%) gained greater independence from setting up their own business, two thirds (66%) increased confidence, and 60% said it gave them greater self-worth.

* Other reasons for women started their own business are to be their own boss (65%), to be able to work from home (61%), to get more job satisfaction (53%), to achieve a better work-life balance (52%).

* The proportion of manual/unskilled (C2DE) female entrepreneurs is increasing - 55% set up their business in the past five years, compared with 47% of professional/skilled women (ABC1), indicating that starting up a new business is not just for those with degrees.

Female entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom is increasing. There are now more than one million self-employed women - a 17 percent rise since 2000. But the gap between female and male entrepreneurship remains stubbornly wide. Despite women making up half of the UK population, they only constitute 27% of the self-employed.

A reception has been held hosted by Miss Harmon and John Hutton for women in business to celebrate their contribution to the UK economy. Announced at the reception is  a new publicity campaign which will encourage more women to start up a business and direct them to sources of help.

 The Government recently announced an Enterprise Strategy, with measures to increase the number of women entrepreneurs, including a £12.5 million Women's Investment Fund with the aim of private sector to match the funding to develop Women - Led Business Centres and the establishment of a  national mentoring network, both of which willprovide women entrepreneurs with support and advice.  

Published curtesy of the Cabinet Office.