The research was carried out by Hull University Business School, Cranfield School of Management and the University of St Andrews. It found that only 8% of women in Wales are self-employed, compared to 20% of men. However, Welsh women entrepreneurs employ more than five members of staff per company, whereas self-employed men employ just over two, on average.

 

"It is pleasing to see that women entrepreneurs in Wales are in a position to employ more staff. However, it is important that the Government helps greater numbers of people of both genders to start and grow their own businesses," said the FPB's National Chairman, Len Collinson. "Encouraging entrepreneurship will create even more jobs and boost the economy."

 

FPB member Michelle Gowing, of Sam's Learning Tree, a childcare provider in Rhyl, suggested that female-led businesses in Wales perhaps require more members of staff than those run by men.

 

"It is still usually women who stay at home and look after the children, so there are not so many who are free to start their own businesses. The businesses they do set up, though, tend to directly affect other women," she said. "I have a friend who owns her own kitchen design business. Unfortunately, women still do a lot of the cooking in families, and are most often the end users of her products. These type of industries tend to be more staff-intensive than others dominated by men, such as IT, for example."

 

Mrs Gowing said that living in Wales provided quality of life in addition to the right conditions for growing her business.

 

"It's not as built up as everywhere else and is better for children. I've been here since I was 12 and wouldn't want to go anywhere else. It's just a really nice place to live and work," she said.