Is a Woman’s Place in the Home?

Figures published by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) for the first six months of their 2005/2006 financial year showed the number of new business starts, as part of the Business Gateway Contract.  In total there 468 businesses were started and of these almost half, 47%, were started by women. 

Joyce Duncan, director of operations, of Enterprise North East Trust comments, “Breaking the figures down further shows that in the first quarter, April to June, 45% of new businesses assisted by Enterprise were started by women however in the second quarter, July to September, this figure rose to 49.5%.   Our business advisors hear varying reason as to why the women that approach Enterprise for business support services and advice have chosen to set up their own business.  For some becoming their own boss is the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition, whilst for others the flexibility that running your own business can offer is important.  The Business Gateway service, accessed through Enterprise North East Trust, is a valuable resource to anyone looking to start their own business.  Enterprise provide business advice, strategic direction and focused training along with access to managed workspace to new and growing businesses and we will continue to strive to provide these businesses with the support that they need in order to ensure that as many of them as possible are still trading in year three and beyond.”

For Karen Molloy and Judith Thorpe, founding directors of Thorpe Molloy it was the desire to provide a specialist service to the North East job market that prompted them to set up their own business.  Karen comments, “We just knew that we could do it better; and we both wanted to be masters of our own destiny.”

The increase in women starting their own businesses, and therefore arguably the increase in female entrepreneurs, is perhaps at odds with the findings of a recent survey carried out by the Eurochambres Womens Network.  They found that business is still considered to be a male domain and that gender stereotypes are still prevalent in business. 

“I’ve always been determined and independent and I am confident that these qualities stood me in good stead whilst we were setting up Thorpe Molloy in 1997 and that they continue to do so whilst running the business today,” comments Karen Molloy.  “During the early years, when we were first setting the business up, the hours were long and hard but now I am able to be more flexible in my working patterns and arrange work around my family.  Whilst I don’t believe that business is a male domain the flexibility that comes with running your own business is a definite advantage for women because they still tend to be the primary carers for children.”

Karen continues, “Thorpe Molloy provide recruitment services to the accountancy, office support and human resource sectors; if anything I think that the women we encounter that are entering these business areas are increasingly confident and that has to point towards the business world having moved even further away from being a male preserve.  The women that we place know what they want and are prepared to go after it.”

Enterprise can provide business advice, through Business Gateway, for all sizes of business on all aspects of running a successful business. Enterprise’s experienced business advisors provide a ‘one stop shop’ for all business development needs from start ups to well established businesses.  Enterprise can be contacted on 01467 672500 or at www.enetrust.com.

Ends

Picture Caption:  Joyce Duncan of Enterprise North East Trust says that the Business Gateway service, accessed through Enterprise North East Trust, is a valuable resource to anyone looking to start their own business. 

For further information contact:
Lyndsay Brackenbury
Tricker PR
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