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Women are making their mark in business, both as business owners and as managers, According to Paula Fitzsimons, national GEM coordinator: "Given that women are setting up new businesses at a rate of 500 every month, the number of women entrepreneurs is steadily growing. Women are also becoming increasingly ambitious for their new businesses: the majority expects to become an employer and one in ten aspires to employ more than 20 people in five years time". Similarly, a recent study published by Fas and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says that women will continue to acquire educational qualifications at a faster rate than men and will increase their share of employment in professional and managerial occupations faster than they will in other job areas.
However, Irish women are still lagging behind men in starting businesses and have been historically less likely to grow their businesses to a significant scale. Similarly, while women are reaching middle management positions, there is still significant imbalance at senior levels in companies. There are many reasons for this but a key obstacle for many women is that they lack the confidence to set ambitious goals for themselves and their businesses and another is an unwillingness to tackle finance and other core business skills that are needed to reach the higher echelons in business. These areas can be particularly well addressed in female only settings. This last point was well made by Jane Williams of The Sia Group as the keynote speaker at a recent information evening for a proposed Dublin Businesswomen's Skillnet. Jane's involvement with the Future Leader's Programme which is aimed at women in a range of sectors, has demonstrated that the female only approach can be hugely beneficial although it should not be seen as the only solution. The greatest benefits came from the support and experience sharing within the group The importance of developing key skills is echoed by Paula Fitzsimons: "It is essential that women have the knowledge and skills to turn their aspirations into strong profitable businesses". The Dublin Businesswomen's Skillnet is aimed at supporting women to do this and it has been successful in securing a development grant for the Training Networks Programme (TNP), from Skillnets, the enterprise-led support body and is currently recruiting members. It is planned that from January 2008, Dublin businesswomen will be able to join a dynamic network of business owners and managers and will be able to partake in regular training and networking activities at a fraction of the total cost and at times and locations that work for them. Members will benefit greatly from being part of a diverse and supportive network. The Skillnet will build on the successful Dublin City Enterprise Network for Women, set up by Dublin City Enterprise Board and is open to all women who run a business or are in management positions in businesses in Dublin.
If you would like to information about the proposed network, please contact Pauline Logan at network@dceb. ie or 087 979 8430
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YOU ARE HERE: 11 November 2007 / tribune.ie / 2007 / 08 / 26
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