Member News
By Baroness Garden of Frognal - 5th March 2010
Baroness Garden of Frognal writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her question on extra resources to encourage female entrepreneurs.
Baroness Garden of Frognal, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats on further and higher education, writes ahead of her oral question on 8 March to ask Her Majesty's Government what extra resources are being provided to encourage female entrepreneurs.
On International Women's day, we focus on opportunities for women in the UK. I have an additional interest in entrepreneurship, as a trustee of Arcubus, a City of London Social Fund initiative to bring microfinance opportunities to Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.
The focus in these countries is most effectively targeted at giving financial support to women, often at extremely modest levels. This enables them to start small businesses, become self-sufficient and provide for their families. Charities and NGOs working in these parts of the world are well aware of the innovation and hard work shown by women where resources are scant and cultural traditions may not be supportive of women working and earning.
In the UK, women are only half as likely to start up their own businesses as men. If they were encouraged to match entrepreneurial men, and to mirror the energy and imagination of women in less-developed countries, there would be an estimated 150,000 additional start-ups each year, leading to personal achievement and making a very significant contribution to the national economy.
My question is designed to give the government an opportunity to explore what more can be done in the UK to encourage women to fulfil their entrepreneurial aspirations.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
JD
7th Mar 2010 at 4:14 am