New research shows that women in Ireland have strong ambitions when it comes to wanting to start their own business, but they are continuing to face significant barriers and challenges.
One in four women compared to almost one in three men want to start their own business.
However, the survey found nearly a quarter of women say caring commitments are holding them back from starting their own business, more than double the rate among men.
The research was carried out by Amárach Research for the Local Enterprise Offices who are holding events around the country today for National Women's Enterprise Day.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Aileen McGrath, Chair of National Women’s Enterprise Day, said: "What we can do through National Women's Enterprise Day and through the local enterprise office is share how people have overcome that barrier, that the barrier is very real and it's how we have the conversation and how we learn how other women have overcome it".
"It's how we start the conversation on it and how we move and start reducing that as a barrier for female entrepreneurship," she added.
The research found 56% of women surveyed say they do not want to start a business, citing barriers such as financial fear, confidence, and caring commitments.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Ms McGrath highlighted the supports and funding available for female led businesses at different stages of the business journey.
"Whatever point of the journey you're at, if it's pre-startup, startup, existing, have the conversation with your local enterprise office and avail of that expert mentoring," she recommended.
Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country through mentoring, training and financial supports for small businesses since their inception eleven years ago.
Now in its 19th year, National Women’s Enterprise Day is organised by the Local Enterprise Offices with 15 events taking place across the country.
Some of those involved in the events across the country this year include broadcaster and entrepreneur Norah Casey, international human rights lawyer Joanna Frivet, author and psychologist Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, designer Helen Steele, entrepreneur Oonagh O'Hagan, home and food influencer Sarah Butler, hotelier Sammie Leslie, fitness influencer Kellie Fennell and stylist and presenter Sonya Lennon.
