Britain needs more women entrepreneurs
Britain would have 750,000 more small firms if women were fully engaged with the business world, says Lord Davies, the trade minister. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Real Business calls for Britain to better engage women in business and promote female entrepreneurship.
“We have an issue in Britain in that we don’t have enough women starting businesses. We need more female entrepreneurs,” says Lord Davies.
To kick-start female entrepreneurship, he says, more female directors need to be appointed to the boardrooms of Britain’s big companies, to inspire women to start their own businesses.
“A quarter of the large FTSE companies don’t have women on their boards. We should change that. It is all about providing role models. We need to showcase women who have done great things.”
We also feel strongly about this issue and showcasing inspirational businesswomen, and recently launched our First Women Awards for 2010.
Real Business and the CBI created the awards – held in association with Lloyds Banking Group – in 2004, to recognise female pioneers across British business, professional and public life.
Nominations for the awards are now open.
How do you feel about women in enterprise? What can Britain do to push female entrepreneurship? What steps have you taken within your business to encourage women to break through the glass ceiling?
Leave your comments below.
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