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Business bug bites woman in Scotland

More women than ever in Scotland are looking to start up their own businesses.

Research conducted by Scottish Enterprise (SE) shows an 11% increase in the number of female start ups in the last eight years.

Research by SE has found that of the number supported by the SE Network rose from 31% in 1999 to 42% for the financial year ending 2006/7

In total, women now account for over one third of the total number of new starts in Scotland – an increase of 4% in just two years.

Scotland’s biggest event for new starts in business, New Start Scotland (SECC, 14th/15th March 2008) is gearing up for its fourth year and will focus on the surge of support for women entrepreneurs in Scotland.

Event organiser Ceri Rogers said: “Last year’s event was a huge success with over 8,000 visitors all seeking advice and support for their business ventures. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and provides a crucial role in helping entrepreneurs.”
Elena Torres
Increased airport delays usually mean headaches for anyone in business, but for one female entrepreneur, they spell success.

Having already been named by The Observer as one of the future 500 rising stars in business, Elena Torres set up her own private aviation company, Exec Air Travel, after noticing passengers frustrations at the long queues at security and ever growing flight delays were leading to increasing enquiries for private air charter.
Elena said: “Being a girl in a typically male orientated industry has really been an advantage, and I've certainly played on this to help get the company name noticed.”

Having approached Business Gateway and secured a £1,000 grant, Elena then turned to the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) where she was awarded a £3,000 loan for help with marketing and advice on financial investment.
Elena said: “We are very lucky to have such resources available to us here in Scotland and New Start Scotland brings them together under one roof. In just one day, you can gather all the information needed to launch your own business.”

“When starting up a new business your brain goes into overdrive - there's so much to think about, so many questions needing answered that entrepreneurs need support. Although your business idea is the life and sole of what you do, there is so much more you have to consider – New Start Scotland should be your first port of call.”

Vivien McKee and Amy Ridley
Female entrepreneurs Vivien McKee and Amy Ridley are on a mission - to rid Scotland of plastic bags.

Taking it one bag at a time, Vivien and Amy’s new company Get Serious World, aims to educate consumers about the difference they can make by never using another plastic bag.

Inspired by Anya Hindmarch’s much sought after “I am not a plastic bag” bag, the girls decided to take fashion to the next level and launched their own environmentally friendly, 100% biodegradable Jute bag - an eco-chic alternative for people who want to be seen as caring for the environment.

With help and support from Scottish Enterprise and Targeting Innovation, the girls first “Plastic Bag Free” shopping launch got underway earlier this month with huge success.

Vivien said: “In the UK, we use eight million plastic bags a year. Each bag is only used for an average of 12 minutes before it goes into a landfill.”

“As UK retailers spend around £60 - £80 million pounds on plastic bags per year, it makes brilliant eco and business sense to switch to environmentally friendly bags.”

Following a soft launch at this year’s T in the Park, Get Serious World is working with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the designers of this year’s Scotland with Style awards to produce a jute bag for the occasion. The company has also recently secured sales with O2 and Apple who want to use their bags.

Free registration and further information can be found at www.newstartscotland.com or by calling 0800 6 34 34 00.

Female Entrepreneurship: The facts

• A quarter of the UK’s 3.2 million self-employed workers are now women – Labour Force Survey 2003

• 30 per cent of business owners are women – Labour Force Survey 2003

• Four in every 100 women aged 18 to are active entrepreneurs – Global Entrepreneur Monitor 2003

• Almost five per cent of the female population expects to start a business in the next three years – Global Entrepreneur Monitor 2003

• 38 per cent of startup business owners contacting The Prince’s Trust in 2002 were women – The Prince’s Trust

• 54 per cent of women start a business so they can choose what hours they work, compared with only 35 per cent of men – Bank of Scotland

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Sabina Kadic, axis media group
T: 0141 889 6868 M: 07894 607 584
sabina@axismediagroup.co.uk

Or

Ceri Rogers, Insight Events
T: 0870 011 7575.
ceri.rogers@insightevents.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1. New Start Scotland is run by Insight Events
2. Pictures available on request from Sabina@axismediagroup.co.uk
3. Elena Torres can be contacted on T: 0845 2572124 or Mob: 0775 332 7733

Amy Ridley can be contacted on T: 0141 332 3337 or Mob: 07729 729 092

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