Two Bournemouth University academics have had their written evidence to an inquiry into female entrepreneurship published.
The inquiry, led by the Women and Equalities Committee, aims to explore barriers facing women – including those from ethnic minority backgrounds – in starting and growing businesses, and how they can be better supported.
Dr Mili Shrivastava and Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow, both from BU’s Business School, responded to the inquiry and have had their written evidence published.
Dr Shrivastava, Principal Academic in Strategy at BU, references how women-led businesses are disproportionately concentrated in lower-growth sectors such as health, education, and the arts - often due to barriers including social norms, gender stereotyping, and limited exposure to STEM fields. There are also regional disparities and additional barriers for women from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Her recommendations included introducing long-term strategies to increase female participation on STEM and other high-growth fields, initiatives to support business development and training, and targeted opportunities for ethnic minority women to help strengthen their professional connections.
Dr Ayatakshi-Endow, Principal Academic in Entrepreneurship, shared insights from her research into women entrepreneurs living and working in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region.
Through interviews with 60 local entrepreneurs, she found that ethnic minority women faced negative perceptions around their abilities and business competencies and often felt ignored or patronised at business networking events.
However, they also emphasised the support they had received from fellow female entrepreneurs – highlighting that interpersonal and social relationships both within and outside the family set up is critical to ethnic minority women’s ability to engage in entrepreneurship activities.
Speaking about the enquiry, Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said: “There is huge economic and creative potential among women wishing to start and run their own businesses. Yet women face barriers pursuing entrepreneurialism that men do not. They range from gender bias in the provision of financial and other support to challenges around caring responsibilities.
“As the Government aims to strengthen economic growth, a timely assessment is needed into what more could be done to help the development of female-led enterprises. WEC’s inquiry will examine existing policies and assistance for female entrepreneurs, looking across sectors from finance to femtech to identify best practice and address issues in relation to funding and investment."
