Mum tag stifles women’s businesses, say MPS

LABELS such as “mumpreneur” are putting young women off starting their own businesses, MPS say.

They claim there is a reluctance to launch companies in the science and tech sectors because of a perception that women’s businesses belong in the lifestyle category.

“The media often portrays women as running ‘lifestyle’ businesses, which have little opportunity for growth,” the all-party parliamentary group for entrepreneurship (APPG) said in a report.

“Terms like ‘mumpreneur’ or ‘lipstick entrepreneur’ do little to tackle the stereotype.”

The report recommends that the media should move away from gender altogether when profiling Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Annabel Denham, the coordinator of the APPG and author of the report, said: “Frustratingly, women are subject to unconscious biases around funding, lack the confidence and role models to pursue careers in STEM, and are erroneously perceived as having inadequate business experience and skills, and a reluctance to take risks.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Women Mean Business campaign aims to encourage the Government to close the funding gap faced by female entrepreneurs.