Female Entrepreneurs in the 21st Century

Came across a report of this title by Bibby Financial Services which makes ineresting reading - www.bibbyfinancialservices.com/upload/bibby_women_in_business_report.pdf. I'm not sure that the way some of the questions are phrased are an accurate representation of the question that must have been asked to achieve certain results, either that or the use of % on the graphs is misleading.

Some interesting points in there though. For example, with the question about which are the biggest challenges facing women in business, women give higher responses than men to all points except one - men think that women's credibility is more of an issue than women do. Good on the women for not being suckered into believing themselves to lack credibility but it might be as well to be aware of that small, but maybe significant, difference in attitude.

Men, however, outstrip women on all counts when it comes to how much they believe they've sacrificed for their business from hobbies to health and all points inbetween. Is it really a 'sacrifice' or just a business equivalent of 'man flu'?

They also have an interesting take on which female role models we should look up to (the choice of which contained precious few actual business women) - they seemed quite keen on Princess Diana. Ah! You can't beat that well known business strategy of marrying the heir to the throne. Let's all give it a go.

Events for Women in Business

Interesting to see that there's a Women, Business and Blogging Conference happening in Leicester on 8 June which sounds like a first for the UK. Smart women are increasingly looking to the web in business and exploring social media in a business context. If this sounds like you, or the you that you plan to be, why not give the conference a try?

More information at www.hum.dmu.ac.uk/blogs/nlabwomen/

If you know of - or, indeed are organising - any other events that might be of interest to women in business, why not post details on this blog?

Women in Business - Shaping Your Future

Thought I'd flag up this event being held on Thursday 29th March, 9.00am - 4.00pm, at the National Fluid Power Centre, Carlton Road, Worksop, S81 7HP.

It's being run by Nottinghamshire Business Venture and the East Midlands Development Agency as an interative event to help shape business support for women in the region. It's the opportunity for any women who are interested in how such support is/should be delivered, in starting and growing their own businesses, and in encouraging women to network and learn from each other to have their say.

I say! Count me in on all counts.

To book your place, contact Steve Foster (he's a guy, but he's a good 'un) on 0115 970 5550 or events@nbv.co.uk.

Women's Enterprise Task Force - bootstrappers extraordinaire?

So, the long-awaited Women's Enterprise Task Force is to run with a budget of £0.00.

Is this typical of funding policies for government task forces? The contributors to the Prowess blog seem to think not.

So why isn't the task force being given some resources to work with? Is it:

a) Because ladies are always so nice they'll do it for free - if wasn't for this, they'd be taking their turn in a charity shop anyway,

b) Because they'll only turn it into a coffee morning and they're quite capable of organising a biscuit rota amongst themselves, or

c) Because if you give them any money, they'll only spend it all on shoes.

Answers on a postcard to Mr Tony Blair, 10 Downing Street, London. First answer to be drawn wins a pat on the head for the clever girl.

Sounds like lip service to me.