Being as good as men isn't enough, say female entrepreneurs
Women believe they have to do better than men to succeed in business, new government research reveals.
Three quarters of the female entrepreneurs responding to the poll commissioned by the Cabinet Office said being as good as men isn't enough; to achieve success, they believed, it is necessary to rise above the accomplishments of their male counterparts.
Released to march the launch of the Girls! Make Your Mark Awards, the study showed a third of respondents thought more encouragement from the government would make the start-up process easier.
But despite this, 86% claimed they would be happy to set up in business again, with the vast majority saying going it alone had given them greater independence and boosted their confidence and self-worth.
Harriet Harman, women and equalities minister, said: "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."
Although the number of self-employed women in Britain has risen by 17% since 2000, men account for 73% of all entrepreneurs. In addition, if the UK matched the level of women-led businesses in the US, an extra 150,000 firms would be set up every year.
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BusinessZONE - 12-May-2008
Categories: News
Story read: 1453
