100 FSB Women campaign aims to help boost number of female entrepreneurs

Press Releases 6 Mar 2018

100 women entrepreneurs from across the UK will be ‘digital role models’ on International Women’s Day

  • 100 women entrepreneurs from across the UK will be ‘digital role models’ on International Women’s Day
     
  • Research shows increased visibility of role models could help boost number of women-led enterprises by 1.2 million

This International Women’s Day (8 March), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) will be raising the visibility of role models for women entrepreneurs with a digital campaign called 100 FSB Women.

The UK currently has 5.7 million small businesses and self-employed, but it is estimated that could be boosted by a further 1.2 million new enterprises led by women. This untapped business potential of women can be tackled, in part, by increasing the visibility of role models for women entrepreneurs, according to a recent FSB report.

Helen Walbey, Chair of the FSB Women in Enterprise Taskforce, said: 

“Research shows that women are less likely than their male counterparts to know a person in business and, as a result, have fewer opportunities to benefit from exposure to others with business experience and are less likely to see people like themselves succeeding.

“I’m really excited about the 100 FSB Women campaign. We’re utilising digital platforms to raise the visibility of some really exceptional women. These women come from all sectors and each has a special story to tell and valuable advice to impart to other women.

“With this being the 100 year anniversary of when the first women got the right to vote, following the suffragettes’ campaigning, we felt it was fitting to feature 100 women FSB members and share their wealth of advice and inspiration with women all over the world.”

People can engage with the campaign and join the conversation using the hashtag #100FSBwomen.

In addition to the 100 Women campaign, FSB will also be hosting a series of events across the UK on International Women’s Day on 8 March.