Women are more likely to become entrepreneurs if they personally know other women entrepreneurs, according to new research from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. This fact is now being seized on by organisers of National Women’s Enterprise Day taking place in Limerick later this month which will showcase the stories of five female entrepreneurs in an effort to help boost the number of women setting up their own businesses in Ireland.
According to Georgina Sweetman of the County and City Enterprise Boards’ organising committee, while County and City Enterprise Boards have supported nearly 13,500 female entrepreneurs in 2009, 1,000 more than in 2008, men are still almost three times more likely than women to set up their own business in Ireland.
“Research from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows that women who know an entrepreneur are five times more likely to become an entrepreneur themselves. Through profiling the success stories of female entrepreneurs in Ireland on National Women’s Enterprise Day, we hope to encourage more women to seek out new business opportunities by setting up their own business,” said Ms Sweetman.
It is hoped that the stories of the home-grown entrepreneurs, who all run their own established businesses in different parts of Ireland, will inspire the 300 delegates at the conference and help bridge the gender divide in business. Further info on www.nwed.ie or call Sarah Bohan at Engage Ireland, phone (01 ) 88 55 162, (087 ) 653 9936, email: [email protected]
