Boom in Ireland's Women in Business

Women are playing a bigger part in small business in Ireland. According to the latest GEM report for Ireland, female early stage entrepreneurial activity rose from 4.2% in 2006 to 5.9% in 2007.

A policy spotlight on female entrepreneurship is said to have played a significant factor in the growth. County Enterprise Boards are reported to have been very active in this area and have for example seen membership of their enterprising women networks rise to almost 6,000, having doubled in just one year.

The report calls for an additional policy focus now on high-growth female entrepreneurship Sixteen per cent of male-owned companies in Ireland expect to employ more than 20 people over the next five years compared with just 8% of women-owned firms.