Women’s Business Services

The area of women in business in the UK is one of the more underdeveloped.  While women make up more than half of the population and a little less than fifty percent of the work force they are dismally represented in businesses of their own.  The UK government feels that there is a vast amount of knowledge, talent and opportunity for a woman to begin a business in the UK.  Statistics tell us that around one million women are entrepreneurs.  This is only about seventeen percent of all self employed people in the UK.

Bridging the gap between men and women starting a business is a primary concern for those in power in the UK.  The United States has almost a million more women in business for themselves and the UK is looking to promote more self employed women.  While beginning a business during the economic hardships of the past year won’t be easy the government feels that it is small, privately owned businesses that will get the UK economy started again.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills established The Women’s Enterprise Task Force in 2006.  The idea behind this task force was to encourage women to start a company as well as be successful.  Women interested in beginning a business can find a link aptly called the Business Link website which is helping to promote business owned by women in the UK.

 If you are a woman and over fifty the government hopes you will take all of your work and life experience and open a business.  They are working with partners PRIME, Enterprise Insight and East Midlands Development Agency to tap into the active over 50 year old self employment market.

One way that women can promote their businesses once they have committed to becoming self employed is to use networking.  They may have used this resource as part of the work force, but if you are going to be self employed it will be even more important.  You may have many options for networking where you live; however, if you only have a few choices you should still get involved.  You may wish to set up your own web site to get your name out there.  If you don’t have funds to have an elaborate site start with a blog.

Opportunities to find financing for a woman will fall under the business services category and is probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks to self employment.  Most women will go to a bank for a loan when starting a business.  There are alternatives to a bank though, through investors or a venture capital firm.  Before you apply for financing make sure you are knowledgeable in the language of finance.  It seems that many women don’t understand equity financing or financing in general.  You should always seek advice from a professional so that you know your options available to you.

Once you have information about the many businesses services that are out there for self employed women in the UK it is the hope of everyone that more women will become entrepreneurs.