Research for influencing policy and practice
Women Into the Network’s dedicated work with women in business allows it to be both a global resource for women’s enterprise and a source of independent, cutting edge research into the impact of gender issues on business, and entrepreneurship.
Rationale research for WIN
The establishment of WIN itself was underpinned by initial mapping and auditing research, which showed that only one in five businesses in the North East were being run by women. Even more surprising was the fact that less than one in ten women were making use of the region’s 700 business networks. As a result, enterprising women were missing out on opportunities to start up and develop their businesses.
Things have progressed significantly and reports such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) have shown in the past that the North East region has experienced the greatest increases in women starting businesses in the UK. GEM is a robust and well-respected annual indicator of changes in entrepreneurial activity. Download the latest GEM report at http://www.gemconsortium.org
Topical research
WIN have undertaken research to help better understand the issues facing women and business.
Banking
Central to our understanding of female entrepreneurship and the support and development of businesses owned and managed by women is the role of those individuals and organisations that interact with them. This study explores the nature of the relationships between women owner-managers in the North East of England and their bankers. It aims to develop an understanding of some of the perceived barriers between the two parties in order that both women owner-managers and bankers can develop a more mutually beneficial working relationship which, in turn, could enhance the prosperity of the North East region.
The study presents the findings in terms of what constitutes a good relationship; what are the barriers to this and highlights specific gender issues that arose from interviews with male and female owner managers and bankers. The factors that constitute a good relationship between bankers and owner managers are very similar apart from; women having to deal with the attitudes of some 'traditional' bankers still holding specific views as to women's roles in society; not taking women seriously (home workers and craft-based businesses classed as ‘hobbyists’; women feeling unable to participate in hospitality and networking events because they don't find them appropriate to their needs; women perceiving bankers roles to include that of proactively helping them to network in order to make contacts and develop their businesses.
The study also found mixed perceptions and expectations:
- Women wanted banks to be more proactive and interested in their business. An important stakeholder.
- Men merely saw the bank as a service provider
- Bankers – did want access to their networks ……. but it was found that mechanisms & venues used by banks are often not appropriate
The assumptions being made had resulted in areas of support being closed off and it was found that specific training for women to better manage their bank managers & vice versa was needed.
As a result of this work and earlier research undertaken, Relationship Management Programmes have been designed and are now disseminated to bankers and those in the professional sector on a regional, national and international scale. A workshop entitled, ‘Managing your Bank Manager to Manage You More Effectively’ has also been designed for female (and male) business owners. If you would like further information on ‘Developing an Effective Working Relationship with the Small Business Customer’ please email Dinah Bennett.
Technology
WIN have also examined the factors contributing to the small numbers of women entrepreneurs within the technology sector. Technological developments present great opportunities for new businesses in the UK, but what of women’s role in this whole sector of technology-based businesses? Women are clearly represented, however much of the commentary on women as technology-based business owners is based on anecdotal case stories. These studies are of value in that they provide a glimpse of what is known about the ability of women to start up and develop these businesses and begin to highlight some of the key factors impeding technology-based women entrepreneurs. This research tries to go behind cases and examine whether women’s experience of starting and running technology-based businesses is any different to those of their male counterparts.
The findings of the report centre around:
The incidence and type of technology-based businesses run by women.
Why and how women start such businesses?
What barriers are perceived to prevent women’s entry into this important market place?
Who provides what type of business support for such businesses?
Is this support used by women and do they perceive gaps in current services that exist?
Overall, this research has lead to an enhanced understanding of the needs of women within this sector. If you would like further information on this research, please email Dinah Bennett.
Facilitators of research
WIN are regularly approached by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), Regional Development Agencies and consultancies to act as facilitators of research. WIN provide information, statistics and put members forward as case studies or role models to a range of different research projects. The Women’s Enterprise Online Summit Event in June 2005, a BERR (previously DTI) initiative, was based on WIN’s role model publication 'IF (Inspired Females) Only', and featured women from the publication as well as other women's support organisations around the UK.
WIN are approached for their views on policy and research and are an integral interface between researchers and women in business both within the region and more widely.
Ongoing member research
WIN puts its members and their needs at the core of everything it does, continuously researching their views and experiences to ensure that the network delivers an effective business support service. WIN has undertaken biannual reviews of its membership and used findings from this research to revise and extend its services as well as informing other local business support agencies about successful aspects of their work and gaps in provision.
Women Into the Network have now entered into a new phase as WIN Ltd, and with the help of members views, are developing a clear and robust business plan for the next three years. The WIN business plan will build on its success over the past 9 years, although the emphasis will be firmly on the future, with foucus on the strategic priorities for women's enterprise. This will enable WIN to develop a sustainable business which will add value to stakeholders, and develop a stronger, positive partnership with the organisations providing the region's business support, as well as the many other individuals and businesses with a keen interest in seeing women in business flourish.
Award winning research
WIN’s authority on women’s enterprise was recognised at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD women’s forums) and at a prestigious forum for female entrepreneurship in Brussels, at which WIN represented the UK. The European Commission charged the Austrian Institute for Small Business Research with the task of identifying specific actions and measures promoting female entrepreneurship throughout Europe. WIN were measured against the criteria and selected as the UK’s best practice initiative for promoting female entrepreneurship. Click here for more information on the research and to download a copy of the Publications on Good Practices in the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship.
Policy research and comment
Whilst Women into the Network is very much about practice it is also involved in influencing the government policy that shapes this practice.
WIN and its members were key in shaping the UK government’s first Strategic Framework for Women’s Enterprise, was a founding member of the national women’s enterprise support trade association PROWESS, and regularly participates in international, national and regional business and economic fora - guiding the policy and programmes of small business agencies, regional development agencies and local government. Download a copy of the Strategic Framework for Women’s Enterprise.
The Women's Enterprise Task Force (WETF) is a national body championing women's enterprise, which was announced by Gordon Brown in November 2006 and met for the first time in February 2007. The Task Force aims to increase the quality, scalability and success of women-owned businesses in the UK by addressing five key areas: gender-disaggregated data; women-friendly business support; access to finance; supplier diversity and strategic influencing.
The Regional Economic Strategy 2006 (RES), 'Leading the Way', sets out how to deliver greater and sustainable prosperity to all of the people of the North East over the period to 2016. It seeks to provide the underpinning economic conditions necessary to achieve the region's vision. One North East is responsible for taking forward the review of the existing Regional Economic Strategy (RES) on behalf of North East England. Download a copy of the Regional Economic Strategy and the RES Action Plan by going to the One NorthEast website.
