SW sisters’ success

Women living in the south west of England are 35 per cent more likely to be entrepreneurs than those in the rest of the country, according to new research.

The findings are revealed by the latest Global Entrepreneur Monitor 2006 report, which also shows the south west to have the highest levels of entrepreneurship in the UK, eclipsing London for the first time since the GEM report has been produced.

“We’ve felt for some time that the West Country is the place for talented and successful businesswomen,” says Cornwall Enterprise Brand manager Carole Theobald. “And it’s great to have that officially confirmed by this report.”

The 35 per cent figure is the difference in ‘total entrepreneurial activity’ - the proportion of women who are either running a business started within the last 42 months or in the process of setting one up. Female total entrepreneurial activity in the south west stands at 5.5 per cent, compared to a UK average figure of 3.6 per cent.

Says Theobald: “Female entrepreneurs have been identified as a key future growth driver for the economy, so this report is a very encouraging sign for our economic development efforts in Cornwall.

“We hope that having so many female success stories locally will inspire more women to go into business in the south west, supporting our position as the new entrepreneurial heartland of the UK.”