With International Women’s Day just
around the corner CEO of The Women’s Organisation, Maggie O’Carroll, has spoken
out about the need for more dedicated spaces for women in business.
It’s been well
reported that women are more than half as likely to take the plunge into
starting up a business as men.
The
Unilever Foundry’s
global study into start up diversity has shown that only 17% of start-ups are
founded by women. While finder.co.uk has
found that the typical business owner on Companies House in the UK is 51,
British and male.
Liverpool based
charity The Women’s Organisation, which is dedicated to the economic
development of women, has found that there is a growing need for more office
spaces in the business community which buck the trend in this male-dominated
landscape.
CEO Maggie
O’Carroll is a firm believer in the power of female-centric spaces, like the
charity’s international centre for women in business at 54 St James Street,
which offer the community and networks critical to improving women’s economic
participation.
 |
| CEO of The Women's Organisation, Maggie O'Carroll |
She explains:
“For many women the prospect of taking their young start-up into the physical
business world can be exceptionally daunting. This next step in taking on
office space requires an incredible level of conviction and assurance - not to
mention monetary resources. That’s why spaces like 54 St James Street are
essential to creating safe and supportive networks, where women can feel empowered
and access further support to succeed in business.”
“Another
fundamental barrier many female-led start-ups face as they begin their journey
is the fact that they are working from home. The experience of many of our
service-users is that this only serves to compound a common issue for women who
typically find themselves as primary caregivers. This prevents them from making
a clear distinction between home life and working life, often reducing their
capacity to focus on their business.”
Since opening
its doors in 2011, 54 St James Street has helped to create over 1,000 new
businesses and created over 2,000 new jobs in the Liverpool City Region through
the work of The Women’s Organisation and the Enterprise Hub programme which is
funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
 |
| 54 St James Street is an international hub for women in business |
Councillor
Gary Millar, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool & Cabinet Member for Business
Economy & Skills, says: “Enabling female participation in the local economy
is critical to addressing the gender imbalance we see in business and that’s
exactly what facilities like 54 St James Street are doing by providing the
support and space needed to succeed in business. To be among a group of
likeminded entrepreneurs is important to any business person to feel inspired and
supported.
“Without these spaces, we risk leaving
behind a pool of un-tapped female potential and talent which would otherwise be
a significant contributor to driving the economy on a local and national
level.”
Tenant of 54 St James
Street and Director of Every Cloud Associates, Kate Morris, says: “As women, I
believe that we already have a natural and shared ability to network. We are
relation-seeking beings with an emotional empathy like no other. 54 St James
Street offers the perfect incubation space for this to take hold and
flourish.
“The peer to peer support,
working alongside other passionate, female entrepreneurs who are trying to do
their ‘thing’ better is a key benefit of this community. It’s hugely
empowering for women to see other women lead and achieve, grow and
develop. It’s like a ‘rising tide’, we bring each other on.”
 |
| Every Cloud Associates office at 54 St James Street |
If you would
like to find out more about the facilities available for female-led businesses
at 54 St James Street and how you can become part of the community, you can
visit www.54stjamesstreet.com
No comments:
Post a Comment