Six tips to help women start businesses while female entrepreneurs boost the economy
SISTERS do it for themselves.
Today is International Women’s Day and research platform The Gender Index reports that Britain is on track to have a million women-owned businesses by 2025.
More than 250,000 women-led businesses have been founded in the past twelve months.
This year’s IWD theme is Inspire Inclusion, and statistics show that ethnic minority-led businesses see a higher representation of women in leadership, with one in five having a female boss.
Jill Pay of The Gender Index praised “a further step in the right direction in encouraging female entrepreneurship”.
Neo Chatyoka grew up in South Africa watching her grandmother make traditional lotions from plants.
After moving to Britain, Neo created a plant-based cream to soothe her baby’s eczema and set up her business uhurubotanicals.co.uk with just £70 worth of ingredients.
Six years later, after financing from Lloyds Bank, she has a factory in Wolverhampton and sells worldwide.
Neo, 38, said: “If you have a companyThere is so much support from friends, banks and business groups. You just have to ask.
“I also founded the Formulation Academy to educate women about product development and manufacturing.
“I work with them in a largely male-dominated industry to help women realize their passion for manufacturing.”
Do you want your own start-up? Michelle Ovens is the founder of Small Business Britain and f:Entrepreneur, which celebrates female founders.
She said: “There has been a significant increase in the number of female entrepreneurs in recent years – making vital contributions to our economy and inspiring many along the way.”
Here are Michelle’s top tips. . .
Keep a sense of humor: Starting up is brilliant but hard work, so try to keep perspective.
Find a gang: Building a support network is critical.
Now think about the finances: Most female founders don’t want to hand over control to “man in a suit” investors, but they do need financing. Draw up a two-year proposal and talk to your bank.
Get help with planning: Work with an accountant or business mentor. Be brutally honest.
To be flexible: From flexible entrepreneurship models For agile working, this mindset can help deal with unpredictable events.
LADIES, WE HAVE LIFT-OFF
ONLY five percent of airline pilots are women, but a number of initiatives are helping more women get jobs.
Captain Ruth Smith worked for British Airways for 24 years and is now a training captain, helping people realize their ambition to fly.
Here she shares her top tips on how women can build careers that are traditionally seen as masculine. . .
You can’t be a superwoman every day: Striving to be the best we can, both professionally and personally, is an important part of success, but it can be difficult to juggle it all. If we achieve in one area of life, another area may slip.
That’s okay, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Believe in yourself: Stay positive, cultivate confidence and be passionate. Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. Rise above any gender stereotyping – you are there for a reason, so believe it.
Know your strengths and weaknesses: Be self-aware and work on self-development. Find a role that suits your strengths and makes you happy.
Support each other: A problem shared is a problem solved. You can learn from the experiences of others. Often, just being open and honest about the challenges you face will reassure you that you are not alone. More often than not, you are reminded that you are doing a fantastic job.
Stay yourself: It will be much easier to achieve success and be happy when you are your authentic self.
EVRI KLEIN HELPS
STIMULATE your career at delivery company Evri.
About 30 percent of the parcel giant’s couriers are women, but they make up just three percent of the company’s truck, LGV and van drivers, only slightly above the industry average.
Now the company is launching a range of initiatives including apprenticeships, mentorship programs and The driving Academy facilities across the country, to increase the number of female drivers in its ranks.
Lyn Warren, Chief Human Resources Officer, said: “The logistics industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but women have the talent to excel in this area.
“We remove barriers and create opportunities.”
See evri.com/driver-academy
JUST ASK, IT WILL PAY
WOMEN could miss out on pay rises because they are less assertive than men in defending their demands.
New research from employment site TopCV shows that almost two in five men boost their salary by talking during a job interview, compared to just 23 percent of women.
Similarly, two-thirds of men surveyed said they would confidently question a colleague about what they earned, while only 54 percent of women would do the same.
Amanda Augustine from TopCV said: “Our research shows a confidence gap, with women increasingly less likely to talk to themselves, even in environments like a job interview where you are expected to sell yourself.”
Vacancy spot
HOTEL and coach company DAISH’S HOLIDAYS recruits interns ranging from business administrators and customer service specialists to hospitality and operations managers. See locomotivation.co.uk for more information.
ALDI will create 5,000 jobs this year, including vacancies for store assistants, managers and cleaners. For more information and to apply, see aldirecruitment.co.uk.