Interesting News

Press releases

HWB encourages women to start their own business

Female entrepreneurs looking for a more flexible lifestyle should consider starting their own business.

That is the advice from Alan Williams, managing director of Southampton-based chartered accountants HWB, who says more women should seriously consider starting their own business after recent statistics announced by the government show that many females can achieve a flexible lifestyle if self-employed.

“The majority of female entrepreneurs are able to work more flexibly from a self-employed status. This particularly applies to new mothers as they need to juggle both business and motherhood.

“The gender divide in business start-ups is slowly beginning to shift, with an increase in female entrepreneurship, which is likely to herald an increase in business overall.

“The Government is committed to helping women into business and the Budget in March included a £12.5 million fund allocated especially for helping business start-ups by women.”

Government statistics found that 75% of women surveyed agreed that work-family life-balance is improved when you run your own business. Currently only 13% of the UK’s businesses are run by women. However female entrepreneurship is on the rise, with the government reporting a 17% increase in the number of women that are self-employed since 2000.

To encourage the rise in female entrepreneurship further, ‘Women’s Business Centres’ were proposed to provide advice on different aspects of start-ups such as pitching for bank loans and preparing business plans.

HWB is one of the largest independent practices in the region. The firm offers advice and guidance to a whole host of small to medium-sized businesses in sectors including construction, healthcare, hotel and leisure and professional services.