UK Ambassadors Network Initiative

Why do we need a of Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors Network?

Women make up 51% of the UK population and 47% of those active in the labour market, but are the largest under represented group in terms of participation in enterprise and offer a wealth of untapped talent and economic opportunity. Despite some progress in recent years, the gap between male and female entrepreneurship in the UK remains stubbornly wide – men are still almost twice as likely to start businesses as women, and the gap is wider still for young women.

Encouraging greater levels entrepreneurship amongst women is a policy priority for Ministers, Government Departments, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and key partners such as the Make Your Mark campaign and the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship. If the UK matched US levels of female entrepreneurship there would be 700,000 more businesses in the UK.

The establishment of a network of women’s enterprise ambassadors has the full support and endorsement of Margaret Hodge (Minister of State for Industry and the Regions) and RDA Chief Executives. It is designed to compliment, enhance and build upon the excellent work RDAs are undertaking with business support providers to ensure that women have access to the women-friendly advice and help they require when setting up their businesses.

The aim is to target women of all ages and across all sections of society. In particular young women who are considering their career choices, women over 30 – who may just have had children, who are taking stock of their future and are balancing between family commitments and work requirements and women over 50 whose children may now have left home or who have retired early.

Role of an Ambassador

A woman’s experience of running a business in the early years can be very different from their male counterparts, making it more important for them to have peer group contact, access to networks and high quality pre-start up support. A key element for Ambassadors is to help build the confidence and self-belief amongst women to believe they can successfully start and run a business. It is recognised that successful female role models act as an inspiration for many women considering starting a business.

Ambassadors are encouraged to make contact with girls and women across all sections of their communities to inspire them about the option of starting a business. Regional Development Agencies, the Make your Mark campaign and their partners will look for suitable opportunities for Ambassadors to support their work and activities.

This will include activities to support the development and delivery of women’s enterprise activities in each region, such as opportunities for speaking to groups in schools, colleges, universities, community groups, business networking groups as well as speaking at conferences and seminars.

The Task Force on Women’s Enterprise will use the network of ambassadors to help inform and advise them on the key issues being faced by women starting and running businesses (see www.womensenterprise.co.uk for more information on the Task Force).



Benefits of being an Ambassador

Those who volunteer will:

• gain a sense of reward, contribution and achievement in providing other women with the inspiration to develop their business ideas
• be part of prestigious network of inspirational female entrepreneurs
• receive promotional opportunities through national, regional and local press coverage
• be able to contribute to their personal development through training provisions, encouragement to enter relevant awards; receive personal invitations to join networks and events
• the opportunity to influence women’s enterprise policy at a local, regional and national level
• receive email updates on enterprise and the women’s enterprise agenda keeping you in touch with everything that’s going on

Who has responsibility for organising the Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors Network

The establishment of the Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors Network has the support and endorsement of DTI Ministers. It will be delivered on behalf of the DTI’s Small Business Service by the nine RDAs in England and the Make Your Mark campaign. Your local RDA will be able to provide specific information about how the Ambassador Network is being taken forward in your region.

RDA Contacts

EMDA
Laura-Jane Franklin
Laura-janefranklin@emd.org.uk
0115 988 8461

SEEDA
Katie Lloyd
katielloyd@seeda.co.uk
01634 899 930

LDA
Saab Pahal
SaabPahal@LDA.GOV.UK
020 7954 4248

EEDA
Steven Thain
steventhain@eeda.org.uk
01621 852363

SWRDA
Catherine Newman
catherine.newman@southwestrda.org.uk
01392 229586

AWM
David Hooper
DavidHooper@ADVANTAGEWM.CO.UK
0121 503 3308

Yorkshire and Humber
Etta Cohen
Etta.cohen@forwardladies.com
0113 3663054

ONE NE
Tracey Mellor
tracey.mellor@onenortheast.co.uk
0191 229 6349

NWRDA
Yvonne Sampson
yvonne.sampson@nwda.co.uk
01925 400488

The contact for Make Your Mark is:

Make Your Mark campaign - Women’s enterprise campaigner
Alex Ritchie
info@girlsmakeyourmayrk.org
020 7497 4030

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Facts and figures

Twenty years ago, fewer than 700,000 women were self-employed – now there are over a million. Despite this, the proportion of all those self-employed who are women remains only around a quarter (27%) and this has stayed much the same for many years. The level is well short of women’s representation in the working age population (51%) or the labour market generally (47% ).

Self-employment is one of a number of measures used to understand enterprise activity. Looking at ownership and leadership of businesses, less than one in five businesses are majority female led. Addressing this under-representation could mean significant increases in the number of enterprises in the UK, and economic benefits for the UK, if:

• women started businesses at the same rate as men, there would be 150 thousand extra start-ups each year in the UK.
• the UK had the same levels of female entrepreneurship as the US, there would be around 700,000 more businesses in the UK. This is equivalent to an increase in the business stock of around 15 per cent.

The decision to start up

There is evidence that the motivations, experiences and aspirations of women staring businesses differ from those of their male counterparts. Women tend to be more likely to start a business to gain independence or to develop an idea, but less likely to do so to exploit a gap in the market and make money.

Many women have different levels of experience from men and different skill sets and have to overcome different personal development challenges.

Women are more likely to cite family commitments as a reason for not starting a business but many of those who do start do so to help juggle such commitments. Indeed, many more women entrepreneurs are running their business on a part time basis.
• Only 2% of men cite family commitments as a reason for becoming self-employed, compared with 21% of women
• While half (51%) of self employed women work part time, only 14% of self employed men do so.
• Although clearly not the case for all women, greater proportions of women are risk averse than their male counterparts .
• Women are slightly more likely to say that fear of failure is a barrier to enterprise than men. Over a third of women (37%) say that fear of failure would stop them from starting a business compared with just under a third of men (32%).

The strength of women’s enterprise

Gender differences and low recorded levels of enterprise among women overlook their current strengths and true potential.

• Women are often not credited with their role in running almost half of all UK small businesses. Women contribute to the success of many businesses beyond those fitting a definition of ‘women-owned’. One in ten male led sole proprietorships report having a spouse/female partner who contributes to the running of the business .

• Now in the UK, women-owned businesses contribute about £60 billion to Gross Value Added; around a fifth of all small business output.

• Receiving business support generally helps businesses perform better. It is therefore encouraging to see that women are more likely to use business support. 70% of women-owned businesses seek advice at the start-up phase compared with 64% of all businesses.

• Educational levels of business owners have also been shown to have a positive association with business performance and growth. In contrast to the situation for paid employment, self employed women are more qualified than their male counterparts.

• There is clear evidence that women-owned businesses start with lower levels of overall capitalization, lower ratios of debt finance, and are much less likely to use private equity or venture capital. With the same capital as men, there is no difference in business performance.

• There are indications that female businesses are more innovative than male businesses. They are more likely to use new technology and to be providing a product or service that is new to the market.

Although the change is gradual, women are increasingly considering starting a business. This potential will be lost if more women do not translate their interest in starting up a business into action.

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PRESS RELEASE - Department of Trade and Industry (National)

Margaret Hodge kicks off recruitment of 1000 strong network of inspirational women entrepreneurs
One thousand female entrepreneurs will be recruited to help and inspire more women to set up their own business, Industry and Regions Minister Margaret Hodge announced today.

This army of businesswomen activists will provide a national network of women helping women across the country and will work with the new Task Force for Women's Enterprise.

The 1000 strong network will:

* be recruited by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) advised by Enterprise Insight, with each RDA asked to recruit over 100 entrepreneurs;

* have a focus on key stages of women's lives including younger women, women who have just had children and are taking stock of their future work plans and women whose children may now have left home; and,

* work with women in their communities, through education and in specific industries to inspire more women to start their own businesses.

Speaking at a conference on women's enterprise, organised by Prowess, Margaret said:

"We can't afford not to do this. There would be three quarters of a million more businesses in the UK if we matched US levels of female entrepreneurship. Successful women throughout the country can and must mentor and inspire many more women to think: 'yes I can do that' and take the confident plunge to start their own business.

"This will lead to a new women's movement that will push back gender barriers and give women the confidence and support they need to start a business."

Enterprise Insight has already recruited thirty ambassadors for the new women's enterprise network.

Kevin Steele Chief Executive of Enterprise Insight and the Make Your Mark campaign said:

"We are looking forward to working with the RDAs to advise on their recruitment of this country-wide network of inspirational business women. These ambassadors for women's enterprise will help generate more self-belief among women to start a business, and provide the culture change needed to boost the rates of entrepreneurship in the UK."

Margaret Hodge also announced that later this year a new support programme for women who have graduated from a UK university within the past 10 years and are thinking about starting a business will be launched.

The programme, to be run by the National Council of Graduate Entrepreneurs, will assist women graduates to turn their business ideas into reality, with sustained support provided over a twelve-month period.

Support activities will include:

* a three-day residential business readiness course;

* one-to-one mentor support; and,

* access to a dedicated online support.

The scheme will be launched later this year with applications to participate being sought from all UK universities, Regional Development Agencies and Business Link Operators (and equivalent in Scotland and Wales).

The facts on women's enterprise:

* If the UK had the same rates of female entrepreneurship as the US we could have around three quarters of a million more businesses;

* If we get more women into the economy UK productivity could be boosted by up to £23 billion, worth 2 per cent of GDP;

* Women-owned businesses contribute about £60 billion to the economy (Gross Value Added);

* Men are still almost twice as likely to start businesses as women (GEM Report);

* 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); and,

* On average, the interest rate charged on loans to female-owned businesses is 1% higher than the rate charged to male-owned businesses (2.9 vs 1.9 percentage points over base; Source: A Report on the 2004 UK Survey of SME Finances, University of Warwick).

* When we asked a small group of female entrepreneurs recently their inspiration/ role model for starting a business four out of ten of them said their role model was another female entrepreneur. (Initial findings from a survey of women entrepreneurs in science, engineering, construction and technology conducted by the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology and PROWESS).

Notes to editors:

1. Margaret Hodge was speaking at a conference on women's enterprise organised by Prowess. The conference takes place over 7-8 Feb at Brighton Racecourse, Sussex.

2. The DTI has provided £5m for 06/07and £5m for 07/08 to fund Enterprise Insight's Make Your Mark Campaign and its ongoing campaign to develop an enterprising culture among young people. For more information on their work go to http://www.girlsmakeyourmark.org

3. Margaret Hodge announced the Task Force for Women's Enterprise in November 2006 with the announcement of Glenda Stone from Aurora and Pam Alexander from South East Development Agency as co-chairs. The Task Force have recently announced their membership list and held their first meeting on Tuesday 6th February. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=242237&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

4. The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship champions graduate entrepreneurship working with universities, the RDAs and their partners to encourage more students and graduates to think seriously about starting their own business, or become self-employed, and is jointly funded by DTI and DfES.

Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.dti.gov.uk

Client ref Reference P/2007/24

GNN ref 143711P

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Women looking to start their own businesses now have a network of 1,000 established female entrepreneurs to show them how it's done.

The women entrepreneurs in the network will be role models, offering inspiration to women, who face unique challenges in setting up their own businesses.

The inaugural meeting of the Women's Enterprise Ambassadors Network will take place today (Monday 25 June), hosted by journalist Polly Toynbee and Industry Minister, Margaret Hodge who launched the search for members just four months ago.

Margaret Hodge said: "We believed there was a demand for female role models in business. But even we are overwhelmed by the response; we've met our target of 1,000 women ambassadors in just two months.

"These ambassadors can encourage and support new female entrepreneurs, boosting the number of women in business - if we had the same rate of entrepreneurship among women in the UK as they have in the USA, we would have 700,000 more businesses in Britain today."

Margaret Hodge had the idea to establish the network when research showed that women, more than men, need a strong, successful role model to give them the confidence they need to start up their own business.

She added: "Encouraging greater levels of entrepreneurship amongst women is a priority. Men are twice as likely as women to set up their own business; we know it is particularly important for women to have somebody in whom the can confide and with whom they can discuss their problems."

Ambassadors are volunteers, and will receive no payment for their work within the network. However, their involvement will afford them opportunities to: promote their businesses; influence women's enterprise policy at local, regional and national level.

Activities undertaken by ambassadors are likely to include speaking to a wide range groups, such as schools, colleges and universities.

To assist ambassadors, an induction and training package is being developed. This will be supplemented by online facilities that will allow ambassadors to access information and exchange views.

Many ambassadors have been recruited to the network through the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and key partners, such as the Make Your Mark campaign and the Small Business Forum.

The establishment of the Women's Enterprise Ambassadors Network has the support and endorsement of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ministers. It will be delivered on behalf of the DTI's Small Business Service by the nine RDAs and the Make Your Mark campaign.

Notes to editors

1. If the UK had the same rates of female entrepreneurship as the US it would have around 750,000 more businesses

2. If more women joined the economy, UK productivity could be boosted by up to £23 billion - 2 per cent of GDP

3. Women-owned businesses contribute about £60 billion to the economy (Gross Value Added)

4. If women started businesses at the same rate as men, the UK would see 150,000 more businesses per annum

5. Most of the one million self employed women in the UK are in the service sector

6. On average, the interest rate charged on loans to female-owned businesses is 1% higher than the rate charged to male-owned businesses

Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.dti.gov.uk

Client ref P/2007/128

GNN ref 148590P

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Female Entrepreneurs – Your Region Needs You!

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) encouraged over 70 business women to officially sign up as Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors yesterday (Monday 9th July), to represent the Northwest in the drive to build a national network of women entrepreneurs.

The event, hosted by the NWDA, follows the call to action by the former Industry and Regions Minister Margaret Hodge, who announced in February that one thousand female entrepreneurs will be recruited across the UK to help and inspire more women to set up their own business.

The UK’s Regional Development Agencies have been assigned the task of recruiting this network of businesswomen. Ambassadors will become a member of a new national network helping women across the country and working with the new Task Force for Women’s Enterprise.

The Women’s Ambassador Campaign aims to promote a culture of women’s enterprise, by starting a business, social enterprise, or by making an innovative idea happen at work.

It is an inspirational and ambitious campaign already backed by a coalition of business, female entrepreneurs, charities, education bodies and government. It is thought to be unique in being women focused, business-led and government-backed. It is also believed that up to 1000 women entrepreneurs have already expressed interest in the network across the UK, achieving initial targets within two months.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said:

“Women are drastically under-represented in the business world, both in terms of occupying top jobs and when it comes to owning and operating their own businesses. We are hoping that with a little support and encouragement we can really get women thinking about enterprise and address the business gender imbalance”

The Women’s Ambassador programme is borne out of the national scheme Girls! Make Your Mark, a national campaign which aims to inspire young women and girls to make their ideas happen, aiming to close the existing enterprise gender gap. The campaign is brought to life through the inspiring stories of women who are already making their ideas a reality, and realistic role models who demonstrate that dreams, ideas and goals can be fulfilled.

The benefits of becoming an Ambassador include:
• An opportunity to be part of the Women’s Ambassadors network of inspirational women.
• Promotional opportunities for you and your business through the national Enterprise Insight press office, newsletter and campaign websites.
• Speaking opportunities at schools, colleges, universities or at networks, conferences and events.
• Other personal development opportunities including offers of training, information on relevant awards and invites to networks and events offering opportunities to meet well-known business people, media and celebrities.
• The opportunity to shape policy at a local, regional and potentially national level.
• Receive regular e-newsletter updates on enterprise and the women’s enterprise agenda keeping you in touch with everything that’s going on.

The Agency is recruiting women in the region that will commit to promote the campaign and to connect with at least 50 women a year. Women wishing to register interest in the Women’s Ambassador programme should contact the Agency’s Business Enquiry Team on 01925 400495.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Ambassador Categories:

Female Start-up Entrepreneur Single Parent
Entrepreneur Champion Graduate Entrepreneur Family business
You are a passionate, innovative and creative woman just setting out on the road to success, making your ideas happen through your own enterprise or community venture. You are a single mum who has taken the leap into the unknown and set up her own business. You want to share your experiences and help other enterprising single mum’s develop their business ideas and pursue their dreams. You are an inspiring woman who has already arrived at your destination and can lead by example. Driven by ambition and a good idea, you understand that hard work and persistence are required to make your ideas reality and you have the ability to inspire others to do the same. You have recently graduated from University with a business idea and set up your own business. You want to encourage other female graduates to explore their ideas and take the lead. You have taken over the running of an established family business and leading it in new directions. You want to inspire other women to take the driving seat.

1. If the UK had the same rates of female entrepreneurship as the US it would have around 750,000 more businesses
2. If more women joined the economy, UK productivity could be boosted by up to £23 billion - 2 per cent of GDP
3. Women-owned businesses contribute about £60 billion to the economy (Gross Value Added)
4. If women started businesses at the same rate as men, the UK would see 150,000 more businesses per annum
5. Most of the one million self employed women in the UK are in the service sector
6. On average, the interest rate charged on loans to female-owned businesses is 1% higher than the rate charged to male-owned businesses

For further information please contact John Greenway, Press Officer on 01925 400552 or mobile 07706 794 141 or john.greenway@nwda.co.uk

Further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk/news

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

UK Women's Enterprise Task Force website developed and provided by Aurora, 2008