‘Sisters’ show women entrepreneurs the way ahead

The women entrepreneurs in the network will be role models, offering inspiration to women, who face unique challenges in setting up their own businesses. The recent inaugural meeting of the Women's Enterprise Ambassadors Network was hosted by journalist Polly Toynbee and Margaret Hodge, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, who launched the search for members just four months ago. "We believed there was a demand for female role models in business,” says Hodge. “But even we are overwhelmed by the response; we've met our target of 1,000 women ambassadors in just two months. "These ambassadors can encourage and support new female entrepreneurs, boosting the number of women in business. If we had the same rate of entrepreneurship among women in the UK as they have in the USA, we would have 700,000 more businesses in Britain today." Hodge had the idea to establish the network when research showed that women, more than men, need a strong, successful role model to give them the confidence they need to start up their own businesses. She added: "Encouraging greater levels of entrepreneurship amongst women is a priority. Men are twice as likely as women to set up their own business; we know it is particularly important for women to have somebody in whom they can confide and with whom they can discuss their problems."