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Help needed for women ‘dreamers’

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Summary of story from The Telegraph, 7.3.11.

Female entrepreneurs in the UK are underperforming in terms of their contribution to the economy compared with their European counterparts, suggests new research.

Principles rather than money drive most British businesswomen, a report into the reasons why female entrepreneurs find it more difficult than their male counterparts to finance their business ideas has found.

Rebecca Harding, managing director of Delta Economics, argues that from her studies women are mainly motivated by the sense of making a difference.

“They are more likely to be following a dream, helping others to follow a dream and wanting to make a differences but that doesn’t mean they are less professional,” she said.

The research findings, released to coincide with the 100th International Women’s Day, shows the ‘dreamers’ are creating more jobs than their male counterparts, are more motivated and more likely to have seen their business grow faster although their turnover is substantially lower and raising finance is an obstacle.

Harding feels the research, based on data from 1,500 entrepreneurs in the UK and other parts of Europe, is a “wake up” call to investors and the government.

She said: “There are a lot of propositions out there where value may be hidden. Women need coaching to get through. Women’s support agencies also need to focus more on how women can grow their business.”

  1. I think it is true generally in life that when you’re motivated by making a difference rather than money you can lose out financially because you’re not thinking commercially, you’re thinking ethically. That’s my view, don’t know if it’s true.

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