A Strategic Framework for Women

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A Strategic Framework for Womens Enterprise - UK

• Jackie Brierton
• Consultant - Womens Enterprise
• DTIs Small Business Service, UK

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Importance of SMEs to the Economy
Share of enterprises, employment and turnover by
size of enterprise, UK, start 2002
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Womens Enterprise Development in the UK
-Background to Policy

• Piecemeal approach through 80s 90s - lack of
  strategic overview
• Grass roots initiatives, local regional but
  lack of impact on policy development at national
  level
• Mainstream business support slow to respond
• Womens Unit initiatives 99/00
• Formation of Small Business Service in 2000
• Phoenix Development Fund 1st round - 19
  projects to encourage womens entrepreneurship

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Seven key policy priorities
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Womens Entrepreneurship facts figures

• Lack of gender-disaggregated data
• 27 of self-employed in UK are women with
  regional variations from 24 to 31
• Around 14 of businesses women-owned
• Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) - 3.8
  compared to 8.9 male TEA
• Women-owned enterprises concentrated in services
  retail catering etc more than 40 part-time
• Some indications of recent increase in womens
  entrepreneurship activity - improved regional
  ratios increased enquiry levels

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Developing the Framework

• SBS policy lead Womens Enterprise Unit
• Milestone meeting of stakeholders and government
  September 02
• Formation of womens enterprise cross-government
  policy group with high-level Ministerial
  commitment
• PROWESS influencing role, and advocacy through
  membership
• Consultation with stakeholders across public,
  private and voluntary sectors
• Development of Strategic Framework for Womens
  Enterprise launched May 2003

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The Strategic Framework

• Emphasises the long-term cultural/social change
  needed to improve womens business ownership in
  the UK
• Provides the cross-government policy research
  context - emphasises need for effective
  cross-cutting of issues
• Highlights the need to provide improved
  mainstream services alongside targeted provision

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The Strategic Framework

• Encourages an inclusive partnership approach at
  local, regional and national level
• Provides practical advice/guidelines for business
  support agencies and others
• Quantifies specific targets for achievement by
  2006

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Strategic Framework -Quantitative Targets

• By 2006 women will account for 40 of customers
  using government- sponsored business support
  services
• By 2006 women-owned businesses will account for
  18-20 of the UK total
• By 2006 the number of women from ethnic minority
  communities receiving business support assistance
  will be proportionate to the relevant
  local/regional population.

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Priorities for Action

• Business support provision
• More accessible and appropriate support services
• Mainstream AND targeted provision
• Development of toolkit for business advisors
  The Case for Womens Enterprise
• Access to finance
• Increase proportion grants/loans/ equity
• More innovation e.g. microcredit group lending,
  women-specific equity funds
• Training and awareness for both supply and demand
  sides

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Priorities for Action

• Childcare and caring responsibilities
• Allowances/ facilities during start-up
• Quality support for childcare businesses
• Transition from welfare benefits to
  self-employment
• Increased numbers of women taking up New Deal
  self-employment options
• Improved promotion of options and effective
  liaison between agencies

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Current Business Support for Rural Businesses!
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Current Priorities

• More emphasis on access to finance agenda
• Improve data collection and research base
• Step up regional advocacy and embed central
  government commitment and resource base
• Increase relevance of current childcare strategy
  to women entrepreneurs
• Access to markets build on recent procurement
  pilots
• Strengthen and develop targeted womens
  enterprise initiatives

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Implementation of Strategic Framework -Challenges

• Effective implementation needs buy-in at
  regional level, as well as across central
  government
• Regional devolution in UK will make this
  particularly challenging post March 2005
• SBS role becomes policy development,
  influencing and expertise
• Onus on Regional Development Agencies to lead
  strategic development and inclusive partnerships
• Need for effective facilitation and
  capacity-building role for PROWESS and others
• Resourcing is critical issue current funding
  crises for many initiatives because of
  regionalisation

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Recent policy developments

• Womens entrepreneurship actions included in DTI
  Innovation Report
• Womens enterprise included as priority issue in
  regional economic strategies
• Treasury support for development of national
  womens business council consultation process
  starting Spring 05

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Strategic Framework

• A Strategic Framework for Womens Enterprise
• Accessible on www.sbs.gov.uk or
  www.prowess.org.uk
• Or e-mail womensenterprise_at_sbs.gsi.gove.uk