This post is the documented version of my talk on the Midlands103 Radio station’s morning programme Midlands Today Show with Will Faulkner, last Friday. The piece came about following this weeks release of the latest unemployment figures from the CSO (Central Statistics Office). The report states that an increasing number of women are joining the dole queues whilst fewer men are claiming benefits. In the Midlands Area there wa an increase of women joining the dole queue by 5% whereas there was a reduction in men signing on by 1.5%. As our clients at The Small Business Fairy consist of 84% female entrepreneurs I found this information startling and upsetting.
The show Producer Sinead Hubble asked me to contribute with a motivational piece which would encourage those fledgling female entrepreneurs among us. There were a few main areas Clara (the show presenter) and I discussed.
IS it a good time to be an entrepreneur in Ireland:
The first Action Plan for Jobs, published by the Government in February 2012, recognised that 
creating an indigenous engine of economic growth was central to the revitalisation of the Irish economy. The Action Plan states Entrepreneurship, and the start-up companies that emerge as a result, were identified as providing the feedstock for future exports and employment” This means that from the very top the business community is supported by the government with particular emphasis on creating entrepreneurs. This hasn’t always been the case in Ireland particularly during the Celtic Tiger era but the government has now accepted that entrepreneurs whether female or not are the back bone of our society and economy as a whole and are now addressing the issue.
How are Irish Female Entrepreneurs viewed in a global context:
Whilst the GEM report does not focus on Female Entrepreneurs alone, it does show some intereseting facts. The latest GEM (Global Entrepreneurs Monitor) Report states that 2200 businesses are being set up each month in Ireland. This is a staggeringly positive figure. Although these may not ever grow further or employ anyone apart from the founder, they are still a business entity paying taxes and contributing to the economy.
In Ireland 11% of startups are in the medium to high end technology sectors. We therefore have the highest rate of entrepreneurs in this sector in Europe.
What skills do you need to possess to be a female entrepreneur:
Interestingly there’s usually a trigger point when someone becomes an entrepreneur, 31% of start ups are by necessity (ie redundancy) and 69% are motivation driven. Whichever way you grasp the nettle you will need to have the following attributes:
- Good product/service (this goes without saying)
- Passionate – (if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life)
- Creative (more and more I see this as the NO1 skill needed, because if you are not creative it’s difficult to build a business as you lack the skill to think outside the box)
- Be able to see opportunities (an entreperneur is 3 times more likely to see the opportunities – refer to the Magic of Todmorden blog for further thoughts on this).
- No fear of failure (we do take calculated risks, whilst we acknowledge what can go wrong we don’t allow it to paralyse us into non action)
- Positive beliefs (refer to the Prophes your Own Succes blog)
(Female) Entrepreneurs don’t let age affect them negatively. I would refer here to a fellow 
entrepreneur on the Going for Growth Programme, on the Senior programme, Aine Cuddihy. She started her business The Minicake Company aged 60! She had previously worked for 30 years as a primary school teacher. What an inspirational lady fairies.
What stops female entreprenuers:
We could refer to the old chestnut of the extortionate cost of childcare in Ireland but there is more to it than that. Many of them are internally programmed issues which need to be overcome.
Lack of confidence – The GEM report also states that men are 2.5 times more likely to be an early stage entrepreneur – as the ambition increases so does the gender gap.
Meeting Old Attitudes – Having built a business (www.teamwoodcraft.com) in a male orientated industry I had encountered old style attitudes personally. I had hoped we had gone beyond this 
but unfortunately a recent edition of the Irish Dragons Den re-iterated that the old attitudes to female entrepreneurs still exist. Uproar in the Den ensued after Dragon Peter Casey asked Aileen Rogers of “Ready Girls” about managing her children as she grows her business. When the other Dragons jumped to her defence he stated that he had sacrificed his time with his own children in order to grow his business, that his wife had raised them.
My advice on this issue is that you just have to work harder and longer to get where you want to go or make your point. Indeed the male underestimation of me, whilst initially extremely difficult to take, in the end became Teamwoodcraft’s secret weapon as they “didn’t seem me coming”!
Not being clear on what you want – Female Entrepreneurs, start ups in particular, are not great at setting goals before they do anything. Just taking a simple event like attending a networking event, ensure you have an objective. What’s the objective here, to get a business card, to connect with someone? Set the target before you go. Refer to the blog Follow The Yellow Brick Road.
Don’t set your sights high enough – Unfortunately I meet the most amazing female entrepreneurs on a daily basis that, although fantastic at what they do, just don’t have the belief that they can grow it. Always remember that what’s in your mind becomes a reality eventually so if you have a good idea, make a plan and take baby steps to implement it, you will get there in the end. See the Prophesy your own Sucesss blog here.
TIPS: What can you do about it:
There is lots of support out there for business start ups. Not all of it is free but remember you usually get what you pay for. I compiled a list of the most outstanding programmes and support available at the moment:-
FREE: The Small Business Fairy Tweetup on 30th April 11am – Racket Hall Tipperary (must register to attend either on our Facebook page (or via email to info@thesmallbusinessfairy.com).
The Small Business Fairy Inovator APP shortly geared towards bringing big business tools to small businesses. This will be available via the Itunes store in the early summer.
Avoid the povery trap. f you are going to start a business and you are on unemployment at the moment you cannot work and claim. However there is a way around this. You need to get onto the Back to Work Allowance Scheme as this will allow you to earn whilst retaining some financial backup. There is also funding available of up to 1000 euros from the government when you start up via this route (terms and conditions apply)
#CREATEKilkenny programme run by Kilkenny County Enterprise Board – offers branding, marketing, financial training, social media training and a fantastic support network etc. This is geared towards crafters.
Going for Growth Programme – Paula Fitzsimons started this voluntary group which is supported by some of the most successful Irish Female Entreprenuers. It is geared towards those more established businesses but they are now looking at supporting high potential startups)
The DCU Ryan Academy has put together a FEMALE entrepreneur Accelerator programme which they are launching later this year.
DCU also offer the High Flyers training course – this is geared towards high potential tech startups
Skillsnet – these are around the island and a great way to get access to cheap training of all kinds whether IT or HR for example
Women in Business Networks – great source of networking for approximately €100.00 a year.
