According to a research by Dell;
A major
30-country global study, commissioned by computer giant Dell, puts the
UK in the top rank of nations providing the most favourable conditions
for female entrepreneurship to flourish.
Key
factors, such as equal legal rights, the overall business situation,
access to resources, training and positive attitudes to women as
executives were all measured.
But although
Britain is among the best performers, there is still no room for
complacency the second annual Gender-Global Entrepreneurship and
Development Index (Gender-GEDI) found.
Despite
edging up the rankings over the past year, Britain still lags behind the
US, Australia, Sweden, France, Germany and Chile.
We
are poor when it comes to female technology start-ups, and could do
much better, as indeed could the rest of Europe, spotting enterprising
opportunities and developing fast-growth ventures.
She says that Britain needs more inspirational female examples [PH]Britain needs more inspirational female examples and women at the top
The UK does make a
better showing, however, with its initiatives to improve the head-count
of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as construction,
where there is a shortage of skilled labour, yet females make up just 11
per cent of the workforce.
Roles models are the
spur for action, according to business owner and investor Ingrid
Vanderveldt, until recently Dell's Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
"Britain
needs more inspirational female examples and women at the top," says
Vanderveldt, who led the company's campaign To Empower a Billion Women
by 2020 and the setting up of the worldwide 100 $ million Dell
Innovators Credit Fund.
Last year in Britain she
launched the Dell UK Centre for Entrepreneurs with a £10 million fund
to help new firms invest in the right technology, critical both for
growth and ensuring long-term wealth and job creation.
The
Gender-GEDI's big picture approach, analysing evidence of innovative,
market-expanding and export-orientated women-led firms across 30
developed and emerging economies, provides telling cross-country
comparisons as well as pin-pointing information gaps.
The central message this year is that women need more support.
Female start-up activity is on the rise in emerging markets [PH]
Key
findings revealed access to capital remains crucial, many industries
remain male-dominated, female start-up activity is on the rise in
emerging markets - Ghana for example has more women starting businesses
than men, more women are needed at the top of businesses and women's
rights have to be addressed first.
The
research's prime objective is the future, providing the hard evidence of
countries' strengths and weaknesses to guide governments, institutions
and corporations, encouraging them to create conditions where women can
turn their ideas into viable businesses that grow and prosper.
Currently 75 per cent of countries in the survey are failing to meet the most fundamental requirements.
"At
Dell we are committed to empowering people everywhere with technology
solutions to fulfil their ambitions and reach their full potential,"
said Karen Quintos, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
"The
Gender-GEDI index provides key insights designed to help countries
advance female entrepreneurship and ultimately bolster the global
economy. We believe awareness of the current landscape is the first step
toward change."
Through the Dell Women's
Entrepreneur Network, the company supports an international community of
women business owners, by providing access to knowledge, networks and
capital.
For more information visit www.dell.com/women and www.eir.dell.co.uk
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