One in ten mums surveyed by BT Business aspire to have their own business, with one in five looking to have more flexibility on choosing the hours they work.
Nearly 15 per cent of women have already started their own business since having children, suggesting that mumpreneurs are a growing force in the UK economy. Increasingly women appear to be ditching the nine to five routine in favour of being their own boss.
Fourty four per cent of respondents felt that the emergence of online social networks is creating more opportunities for women in business today.
The three most popular reasons for wanting to set up a business were; more flexible hours (62 per cent), achieving a better balance between work and family life (50 per cent), and being their own boss (38 per cent).
Ivan Croxford, general manager of digital marketing services at BT Business, said: ‘We’re witnessing the rise of the mumpreneurs. Mums across the UK are embracing the internet and keeping the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit alive. We’ve seen evidence of this on our social business network BT Tradespace where we’re increasingly connecting with women starting their own businesses. We need to ensure that this vital community gets the right support to thrive.’
Mum-of-two Tabitha Potts is a classic example of a successful ‘mumpreneur’. After having her two sons, Tabitha spotted a gap in the market for eco-friendly clothing and toys for children, and decided to set up Mimimyne.
Tabitha said: ‘I know many women that are balancing their family life, run their own business and are the major bread winner. The Internet has opened up a world of new possibilities and now with social business networks, mums across the UK are really grasping the opportunity to create a market for a new business idea from the comfort of their homes. Mumpreneurs need to be given the right support to bloom!’
This post has been commented 2 times
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January 23rd, 2010 at 12:13 amNatalie Hickey says:
I only launched my gift business in October 2008 and am currently earning the same as I was in full time employment but with the priceless bonus of spending time with my son.
I feel so lucky to be in this position that I now aim to encourage other mums to do the same.
I am in the process of relaunching http://www.MumpreneurGroup.com to provide a friendly and fun place for mums to promote their businesses for free.
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May 15th, 2010 at 10:11 amClaire O'Connor says:
For many years, babyballet was an idea that was bubbling away in the back of mind. I had a burning desire to develop my concept further but I never thought it would be possible. I had a husband and two children to consider and with a steady job it just seemed like a dream I would have to keep within. It was hard to even think about combining motherhood with developing a business never mind doing it!
It was my husband Chris who eventually convinced me to take the bull by the horns and go for it. He knew how much I believed in it and how much research I had done in any spare time I could get when the children were in bed. From that minute I have never looked back. Five years on babyballet is now a National franchise with 25 franchisees running their own successful babyballet franchises (the majority being mumpreneurs themselves!)…..and I managed to squeeze in having two more babies in between!
Winning ITV’s Mumpreneur title in 2008 was just amazing and it gave me even more confidence to take the brand further.
If you believe in something so much, just do it. At least then you can’t look back and regret not giving it a go.
I still have to pinch myself when I see babyballet classes now taking place throughout the UK and with International expansion plans firmly laid, babyballet really is a dream coming true.
Go for it, and don’t let anybody stand in your way.
Claire x