Welsh Women in Business failing to compete in the global marketplace - many will remain on the breadline-

Women in business, certainly mirror the inequality of incomes of the women within paid employment, but, more often are worse off.

Out of the 140,000 or so businesses in Wales, only around 2,000 women owned businesses , reach the VAT turnover threshold, Cardiff City Council reported that 149,000 Uk women work unpaid in family run businesses, around half of all self-employed people in the UK earn less than 10,000 a year, there are reported 875,000 women in self-employment. Women in business, certainly mirror the inequality of incomes of the women within paid employment, but, more often are worse off.     Recent research shows, that half of all women don't save more into pensions because they, simply 'haven't got enough spare cash'.

Being in business for the majority of women, means far less income then if the were within paid employment. No holidays, sickness pay, and, they have far more stress. For many women in business, it has been a set of circumstances which forced them into self-employment/business ownership in the first place, redundancy, divorce, bereavement, childcare responsibilities, often returning to work unprepared, and, untrained........"    Jean Bartlett, Director, The Bag Lady Directory & International Trading Portal for women in business.

Despite the combined Billions of the Welsh organisations such as ELWa, WDA, whose remits are to assist businesses,and, develop the Welsh skill base. Welsh Women Owned Businesses, are just not offered "flexible quality training, and, support to allow them to conduct business online, and ,compete within the market place" .

Courses for example geared more towards 'fitting around funding application criteria's, which subsequently sees courses offered being months or even years outdated, and, which are quite often delivered and, managed by unskilled staff. It is also a norm with the nature of European Funding for many organisations to come up with 'a course, initiative' just because there is 'Money in the pot'.

Many small businesses are failing in taking up the opportunities of e-commerce because of lack of skills. Further blighted by merchant providers such as World-Pay who offers businesses facilities to take credit cards online , and, forces them to accept terms that can have serious implications for them. As many businesses have to accept their terms of waiting for 8 weeks or more in getting paid, resulting in serious cash flow problems for them.

However, there are many options opened to sole trader, SME's, such as USA Merchant providers Paypal, ikobo once they have the skills, confidence, and, moreso, "knowledge" and, are themselves, capable of unitising the internet and, sourcing alternative services in the 'global marketing place'.

"....When the WDA secures funding and, in access of 4 Million is poured into one e-commerce programme, and, that programme is managed by a WDA employee with no e-commerce skills, not the best of consultants recruited. Then it is, little wonder that yet again, another WDA programme was unsuccessful. It is therefore no surprise that many small businesses continue to sit on the sidelines when it comes to e-commerce.

However, major concerns must be that with around half of all self-employed people in the UK earning less than 10,000 a year, with growing proportion of the self-employed relying on their own personal skills for their income, 'developing their skill base, and, having availability of affordable quality training is paramount' to them.

With 875,000 "women" in self employment in the UK, and, considering that working women with young children are having to set aside up to two thirds of their earnings just to pay for childcare, then, they have very little if at all, money, to invest in training courses to develop their 'skills'.

It is these women who are heavily reliant on government agencies, the likes of the Welsh WDA, ELWa, and, the universities getting it right. As it is, it is these organisations which more often than not, have easy access to EU and, central government funding, and, which can offer 'Free, or heavily subsidised courses, and, assistance to businesses.

They must get it right, if many women in business, particularly those who are "the sole income providers in their households". It should not be acceptable to see valuable funding wasted, on offering courses, business programmes, that are out-dated, and, that leaves businesses no better off. Moreso courses which simply do not assist in developing their skill base to increase productive, sales,and, ultimately 'profitability', and, incomes..."     Jean Bartlett, Director, The Bag Lady