smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The minister for women Harriet Harman has promised that the government will do what it can to 'back up' women's businesses 'in the early stages' if they want support.

Speaking on ITV's GMTV, Harman said that a government fund of £12.5 million would be matched by £12.5 million from the private sector which would be used to establish women's business centres.

Based on American models, these centres would provide advice for women on starting their own companies, including how to get financial backing and how to write a business plan.

Harman commented that it was 'interesting' that women entrepreneurs, despite being 'very independent' and 'very entrepreneurial' still think there is a role for government to play in backing them up 'in the early stages'.

She told the programme that it is important for the economy that women feel able to start their own businesses.

'If you look at the competitiveness of the American economy compared to ours, the gap between us is that in America more women set up their own businesses,' she commented.

A recently-released government-commissioned survey found that women believe that they must be better than their male peers to succeed in business.

The same survey found 78 per cent of female entrepreneurs gained greater independence through being their own boss and 66 per cent saw increased self-confidence.

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