EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Stairways to growth: supporting the ascent of women's enterprise in the UK

Stairways to growth: supporting the ascent of women's enterprise in the UK

Introduction

Research which examines the importance of encouraging women's entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom and looks at progress since the publication of the government's 'Strategic framework for women's enterprise' in 2003.

Description

The report outlines government policy on supporting women's self-employment and business ownership and considers whether the current policy aims are justified. It assesses the levels of female enterprise in the UK compared to the other G7 countries over the past five years and finds that the gap between male and female entrepreneurship in the UK has closed and the UK no longer has the widest gap. It examines the complexity of women's enterprise, looking at the role of regions in delivering policy, and enterprise in ethnic minority communities. Case studies of the experience of female entrepreneurs are included.

Background information

The report builds on the progress made in recent years to increase the number of women-owned businesses in the UK and aims to provide insights which can inform future policy and practice.

Methodology

The research was based on statistical analysis of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor UK data since 2002 and a qualitative survey of twenty practitioners, academics and analysts.

EU involvement

The report was supported by the SIED Partnership under the European Social Fund, Equal Community Initiative Programme.

Conclusions

Overall levels of female entrepreneurship have remained consistent over the past three years and although attitudes have changed, women are still less likely than men to think that they have the skills to start a business and they are more likely to fear failure.

Amongst recommendations for future policy were the following:

there is a need for sustained long term Government commitment to women’s enterprise development;
women who have accessed enterprise training courses at school are more likely to embark on starting their own business than those with no such training;
funding and mentoring support is important for guiding women through the early stages to stages of growth potential;
incentives are still needed, as is tax relief on childcare, especially for women from hard to reach groups and from ethnic minority communities in deprived neighbourhoods.

Contact info

Prowess
Phone: +44 1603 762355
admin@prowess.org.uk

Publication date

01/11/2006

Researcher

Rebecca Harding (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor)

Links

Global Enterpreneurship Monitor Prowess

Stairways to growth: supporting the ascent of women's enterprise in the UK (PDF, Eng, 860 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Equality

Keywords

Gender Equality