Women going into business totally unprepared

Many women are happily walking into business ownership, with rose tinted glasses, and, in many cases totally unprepared for it.

Many women are happily walking into business ownership, with rose tinted glasses, and, in many cases totally unprepared for it.

With significant number of government initiatives, sponsored awards events celebrating women in business. With successful women being brought out on the 'catwalks', to motivate us and tell us how they did it as a "women in business" . It is any wonder that many women are happily walking into business ownership, with rose tinted glasses, and, in many cases totally unprepared for it.

Lets look at some facts, why so much interest in women and work? Some of the current government initiatives does resemble what happened in the 2nd World War. Simply because as there is now in the UK, there was then a shortfall of labour, and women, as they did in 40's, they fill the gap. The men off fighting a War, so women were encourage to come out of their kitchens, and work. What did the government do? Well they put in place crèche, set-up canteens to save women taking time out to cook, and they put their PR machine to work on changing attitudes and, pulling on their heart strings, "it is you duty, your country needs you".

But it does sound all to familiar with what is happening today with governments recent announcement for further 1 Billion towards childcare. Having said that, really without a War, how can any government justify nowadays their push of women into low paid work with child care costs eating away at their wages? And in light of the fact that for so many now, there's resignation to the prospect of working until they are 70. Will a few years child bearing and taking time out to stay at home to bring up the family seem more practical, or even appealing?

Let us take a look at business ownership, despite recent research that women own third of UK businesses with 1 million turnover. If we look at research by the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), then business owners are likely to work more, for less money than in paid employment. And on average self-employed women in the UK earn only 39% of the wages of their male counterparts (Department Social Security). With owner-managers often having to plough money back into the business, certainly putting paid to the notion that youll have wads of money by 'running your own business'. Small firms are reportedly owed 31 Billion and payment of invoices averages out to 70 days, many businesses fail because of cashflow.

Research reports that women can take up to 5 Years to learn skills necessary to run her business, is this perhaps because of the lack of "women" in top management positions. A man experiences no "glass ceiling" in the workplace, consequently one can argue that he can acquire all the skills and knowledge in his paid employment across all senior positions, and therefore he can come out and, set-up in business leaps and bounds ahead of any women, armed with necessary skills.

Let's look at realities of business ownership. Non, a Welsh women, 70 Years young who has worked all her working life in the family business, will shortly be finding herself and her husband, homeless. Her half million pound home must be sold to pay creditors.

After decades of the family firm contracting to British Steel, and then the new privatised steel company Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) The company decided not to pay a several hundred thousand pound invoice which they owed the family run business. Allied Steel and Wire used typical delaying tactics for months until the steel company went into receivership. Then the receivers refused to contract to Non, more work as ASW were very busy and needed to clear orders. So ASW brought in other contractors, and paid them cash.

Non, won't be strutting on any Catwalk at Women in Business Awards ceremony. No, indeed, Non herself will be queuing at the Cardiff City Council offices to see if they can house her.

One must questions that the government should be investing in preparing women more for business ownership, putting in place systems and programmes which can actual assist them and, perhaps investing less in celebrations".