Women intent on boosting business prospects

According to a survey of women business leaders, around one in five (22%) women entrepreneurs are still committed to developing their businesses including starting another new venture in the next five years. The figure rises to one in four in London. This is despite the ongoing recession and the various hurdles women business leaders think they face.

Conducted by Business Link in London, the study found that many women feel that they still need to try harder than men to prove themselves as business leaders. The research found that despite the deepening recession, it is the more traditional barriers that are making it harder for women to start and grow their business.

Fran Currie, chief operating officer at Business Link in London, said: "If we are to make a speedy recovery from the recession, we need all sectors of the economy contributing. Approximately 16% of UK small businesses are women owned so this is clearly a sector which provides a significant contribution to the UK economy."

"But it is clear that women are still not on a level playing field with men – gender stereotypes continue to be a barrier and far too many women entrepreneurs face an uphill battle as they develop and grow their business," she said.