Women urged to start up a business

NOT enough woman are involved in entrepreneurial activity in Ireland despite a decade-long growth in business start-ups.

This was the message yesterday at a conference to celebrate National Women’s Enterprise Day.

Delegates heard there has been a substantial rise in entrepreneurial activity in Ireland over the past 10 years, but one group that has not excelled as highly as others is women.

Chair of the organising committee, Sheelagh Daly, said: “This event offers a holistic approach to entrepreneurship, and will inspire women to start up a business, as well as providing a platform to overcome the difficulties typically faced when starting up a business.”

More than 360 women attended the event in Mullingar, which also aimed to address the issue of gender imbalance of female entrepreneurship in Ireland.

“The level of interest among attendees is a clear demonstration of the desire among many Irish women to change the position and role of females in enterprise,” said Ms Daly.

Keynote speaker was Ruth Badger, former participant in The Apprentice and managing director of Ruth Badger Consulting.

“Businesses exist to succeed, but success can only exist with a strategy and a plan to drive it,” she said.

“I would encourage anyone, be they in business or considering a start-up, to believe in themselves as, with this allied to a well planned business strategy, anything is possible.”

Other speakers at the conference included business consultants, networking experts and Irish business women.

The National Women’s Enterprise Day is an output of the services to promote women in business and entrepreneurship element of the National Development Plan.