Liverpool-based The Women’s Organisation made a major contribution to The Rose Report, which calls for more opportunities for women, both in the workplace and in their own entrepreneurial right

An achievable rise in female entrepreneurs could boost the UK economy by up to £250bn a year, a new report claims.

Liverpool-based The Women’s Organisation made a major contribution to The Rose Report, which calls for more opportunities for women, both in the workplace and in their own entrepreneurial right.

It was issued on International Women’s Day and was compiled by Alison Rose, deputy chief executive of NatWest Holdings and chief executive of its commercial and private banking arm.

Focus groups

The Women’s Organisation was involved in consultation and putting together focus groups of women entrepreneurs to provide interviews.

Its co-founder and chief executive, Maggie O’Carroll, is a contributor to the Government-commissioned report which claims the UK economy could be given a £250bn boost if women entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to develop new businesses on the same scale as men.

Lack of business spaces holding back female entrepreneurs, says Maggie O’Carroll

The report claims that 6% of UK women run their own businesses, compared with 15% in Canada, almost 11% in the US and more than 9% in Australia and the Netherlands.

And it reckons that if the UK only matched the level of female entrepreneurship as other nations, it could add £200bn to the national economy, which rises to £250bn – worth four years’ economic growth – if women were backed to the same extent as men.

Less funding

However, despite describing the UK as the “start-up capital of Europe”, it said, female-led businesses receive less funding than those headed by men. In fact, a survey of 1,500 men and women, as part of the review found that access to funding is the number one barrier, mentioned by almost twice as many women as men.

The report said: At every stage of the business journey UK women are less likely to pursue entrepreneurialism than men. Only half as many women as men start businesses. Male entrepreneurs are also five times more likely than women to grow their business to £1m turnover, or more. 

“We asked over 1,500 men and women non-entrepreneurs to list all the reasons deterring them from starting a business. Access to funding is the number one barrier, mentioned by almost twice as many women as men. Women are also twice as likely to cite caring responsibilities as a barrier than men.

“The financial and other risks of starting a business also deter women more than men, while one in six women believe they lack the necessary skills and knowledge.”

Missing firms

Ms Rose’s report estimates there are 1.1m “missing” female-run firms and sets out eight ways of boosting the number of female entrepreneurs.

These cover areas such as increasing funding directed towards female entrepreneurs, providing greater family care support for female entrepreneurs, making entrepreneurship more accessible for women, and increasing support locally through relatable and accessible mentors and networks.

Maggie O’Carroll added: “The economic imperative is compelling to have focused policies and investment to support female enterprise development in every corner of the UK – we must now turn this into real action.”