Women encouraged to start businesses

WOMEN are being encouraged to start their own businesses with the government aiming to provide the “right environment” for them.

Minister for small business John Perry is aiming to encourage more women who have “the motivation, skills and ability” to start their own business.

The minister was speaking following his meeting with Irish Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship who have been appointed by the European Commission to promote and encourage more females to become entrepreneurs.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report for Ireland for 2010 found that fewer women than men are active with the rate of early stage entrepreneurship among men at 9.5% compared to 3.9% for women.

“It is therefore vitally important that we provide the right environment to foster the development of this untapped female entrepreneurial talent across all sectors of Irish business,” said Minister Perry.

“I believe that the Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship can play an important role in stimulating growth in our economy and this government will play its part in providing support to small and medium business and encouraging female entrepreneurship,” he added.

President of Galway chamber Carmel Brennan said too few women are taking the step to starting their own business and there is “huge untapped entrepreneurial potential”.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to meet with Minister John Perry to introduce the Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship initiative and discuss the challenges facing female entrepreneurs. We had a very engaging discussion on the issues which affect entrepreneurs considering starting a business as well as a very open dialogue on recommendations to make the environment for female entrepreneurship more favourable,” she said.