Facebook Champions UK Female Entrepreneurs
It was a great honour recently to be featured in an article by Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg. The post appeared in Stylist’s People section and was entitled “We can shine a brighter light”: Sheryl Sandberg is on a mission to change women’s lives via business.
The article addresses the gender gap in small business ownership. Currently, this gap is skewed towards male entrepreneurs, with only one in five businesses in the UK led by women. However, change may be on the horizon. According to Sheryl, at least one in ten women are considering starting their own business venture. If these ambitions materialise, we could see the gender gap narrow significantly over the coming decade.
Facebook Champions UK Female Entrepreneurs
So, what’s holding women back from a greater presence in the world of small business? While many women aspire to start their own businesses, they often cite a lack of confidence and fear of failure as key obstacles. As Sheryl notes, this issue isn’t exclusive to the UK but is evident globally—women tend to be more risk-averse compared to their male counterparts. The positive news is that advances in technology and the increasing ease of starting a business are helping to level the playing field.
The Last Hurdle was highlighted in Sheryl’s article for our dedication to helping businesses promote themselves more effectively, particularly through the use of Facebook to drive online sales. The article also underscored the scarcity of visible female role models in business—a significant barrier for women considering entrepreneurship.
As Sheryl points out, simply celebrating successful female entrepreneurs isn’t enough. Women need robust support structures that empower them to take that leap into entrepreneurship. This support includes fostering essential digital skills that are crucial for business success, such as CRM systems, web development and social media management.
In response to this need, Sheryl and Facebook have launched the #shemeansbusiness initiative. This programme, in partnership with the Women in Enterprise Taskforce run by the Federation of Small Businesses, aims to provide women with the resources, advice, and training they need to thrive as entrepreneurs.
Empowering Women to Take the Leap
Many women possess brilliant business ideas but may lack the confidence to take the first step. The good news is that initiatives like #shemeansbusiness are helping to create a more supportive environment for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
According to Facebook, there are approximately 2.7 million women in the UK who are considering starting a business. If even a fifth of these women took the leap, it could result in the creation of 340,000 new women-led businesses. It’s not just the younger generation poised to lead this change—women with years of employment experience are increasingly viewing entrepreneurship as a viable next step, using their skills and expertise to shape new enterprises.
The landscape is evolving. If you’ve been considering starting your own business, now might be the perfect time to take that step. The question is: what’s stopping you?
