More Women Start Businesses

British women are closing the gap on men in terms of the number of business start-ups, according to a study by IFF Research for London Business School and Babson college in the US.

Results from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor were featured in the UK's Times newspaper on 21 January. The total proportion of entrepreneurs remains settled at 6.3% of the working population but for every 100 male entrepreneurs there were 46 women in 2004 compared with 43 a year earlier.

Britain lags behind Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US in terms of overall business start-up rates, but is ahead of European rivals including France and Germany. Female start-ups in London fell slightly in 2004 but in most other UK regions numbers were up significantly, with the East Midlands leading the way.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the government wanted 'to create a culture that means wherever you live and whatever your background you can turn your great ideas into business successes', adding the wish to help reduce regulatory burdens on business and improve its access to support.

IFF conducted the UK part of a global project, interviewing 25,000 people in the UK and Ireland. The agency is online at www.iffresearch.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

• IFF Research Ltd
• All news
• MrWeb info