Getting women into business

Encouraging women to start up new businesses and boost European economies is on the agenda at an event launching Global Entrepreneurship week.

Women’s employment minister Annabelle Ewing will host an event with Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, looking athowmore women can be encouraged to consider leading their own businesses. Research has shown that the Scottish economywould be boosted by £7.6billion if the number of women- led businesses increase to the level of those run by men.

Ms Ewing will describe the Scottish approach to encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and hear from representatives from European governments, business and industry support groups on how they are addressing the issue.

Ms Ewing said: “One area where the gender gap is still most clearly defined is in business ownership.”