Study of female employment and entrepreneurship dynamics between France (Finistère and Côtes d’Armor) and England (Cornwall and Hampshire). Isabelle GUEGUEN, Virginie FONTIER, Séverine BRESSAUD, Laure LHERMET

Difficulties Lack of data concerning female entrepreneurship Confidential data or charge for data Lack of data concerning female entrepreneurship Confidential data or charge for data

The territories

The cooperation area HampshireCornwallCôtes d’ArmorFinistère Population, area, population densisty, demographic growth (2010) 3 688,6 km /km2 (2005) + 3,2% (1998 – 2005) (2010) km2 145,1 /km2 (2005) + 6,5% (1998 – 2005) (2010) 6 877,5 km2 82 /km2 (2005) + 3,8% (1998 – 2005) (2010) km2 130 /km2. (2005) + 3,1 %. (1998 – 2005) Unemployment rate 5,5% (2011)5% (2011)8,3% (2011)8,5% (2011) Rate of started businesses Around 15% in the UK (2011) (early- stage entrepreneurial activity) 13,5%12,5% Comments Urban concentration of the population, dynamic economic activity Rural area, restructuring and touristic economy Duality between Armor (littoralarea) and Argoat (wood area) Urban and littoral area

Table of contents 1. The female employment 2. The female entrepreneurship 3. Profiles of women entrepreneurs and businesses 4. Perceptions and motivations 5. Access to supports 6. Use of the ICT 7. Current qualitative study 1. The female employment 2. The female entrepreneurship 3. Profiles of women entrepreneurs and businesses 4. Perceptions and motivations 5. Access to supports 6. Use of the ICT 7. Current qualitative study

1. The female employment  A high employment rate among women  A lower employment rate in Brittany, and a higher one in Hampshire  A higher unemployment rate in Brittany (esp. in Finistère)  More women having a responsible job in Cornwall (no data available for Hampshire)  Part time work : a common characteristic of the 4 areas (esp. In Hampshire and Cornwall)  Women working mostly in education, health and social services sectors  A high employment rate among women  A lower employment rate in Brittany, and a higher one in Hampshire  A higher unemployment rate in Brittany (esp. in Finistère)  More women having a responsible job in Cornwall (no data available for Hampshire)  Part time work : a common characteristic of the 4 areas (esp. In Hampshire and Cornwall)  Women working mostly in education, health and social services sectors

2. The female entrepreneurship Female entrepreneurship rate higher in Hampshire and Cornwall (> 33%) than in Brittany (28%), 4 rates higher than national rates (UK >29% ; France = 30%) An important growth of women « self-employed » in Hampshire and Cornwall and a growth of women entrepreneurs in Brittany thanks to the new status of « auto-entrepreneur » More than 50% of « self employed » women are working part time in the South East and South West Female entrepreneurship rate higher in Hampshire and Cornwall (> 33%) than in Brittany (28%), 4 rates higher than national rates (UK >29% ; France = 30%) An important growth of women « self-employed » in Hampshire and Cornwall and a growth of women entrepreneurs in Brittany thanks to the new status of « auto-entrepreneur » More than 50% of « self employed » women are working part time in the South East and South West

3. Profiles of women entrepreneurs and women businesses Same characteristics between the 4 areas: A majority of women starting their business between 35 and 50 years old Female entrepreneurs are more graduated than male entrepreneurs Increasing entrepreneurial background of female entrepreneurs, but always lower than the male entrepreneurs one The women businesses are mostly created in some industries (education, social services, retail… ) and mostly didn’t hire employees Same characteristics between the 4 areas: A majority of women starting their business between 35 and 50 years old Female entrepreneurs are more graduated than male entrepreneurs Increasing entrepreneurial background of female entrepreneurs, but always lower than the male entrepreneurs one The women businesses are mostly created in some industries (education, social services, retail… ) and mostly didn’t hire employees

4. Perceptions and motivations of women entrepreneurs Female entrepreneurship is pictured as : – An opportunity to fulfil herself, to progress – A way to manage time Women entrepreneurs suffer from a lack of confidence Female entrepreneurship is pictured as : – An opportunity to fulfil herself, to progress – A way to manage time Women entrepreneurs suffer from a lack of confidence

5. Access to supports The finance of women businesses introduced in the British and French studies as barrier Identification of financial supports for the women : FGIF in France and Outset Cornwall in Cornwall In Brittany women didn’t meet difficulties to get access to financial support but the industry of their business and their status can be discriminating The finance of women businesses introduced in the British and French studies as barrier Identification of financial supports for the women : FGIF in France and Outset Cornwall in Cornwall In Brittany women didn’t meet difficulties to get access to financial support but the industry of their business and their status can be discriminating

6. Use of ICT A Cisco’s study concerning the ICT – education among women shows that more female school students in the UK are planning to study ICT than in France (48% to 25%), but the dropout rate is higher in the UK than in France (43% to 24%) The female entrepreneurship rate reaches 8% in the innovative industries in France and 5 % in the technology industry in the UK. ICT – women networks are mostly created at the national level and in urban areas, but some NGO are working on this theme with developing countries Important use and presence of the women in social networks but an underestimation of their skills A Cisco’s study concerning the ICT – education among women shows that more female school students in the UK are planning to study ICT than in France (48% to 25%), but the dropout rate is higher in the UK than in France (43% to 24%) The female entrepreneurship rate reaches 8% in the innovative industries in France and 5 % in the technology industry in the UK. ICT – women networks are mostly created at the national level and in urban areas, but some NGO are working on this theme with developing countries Important use and presence of the women in social networks but an underestimation of their skills