One thousand female entrepreneurs will be recruited to help and inspire more women to set up their own business, Industry and Regions Minister Margaret Hodge announced today.

This army of businesswomen activists will provide a national network of women helping women across the country and will work with the new Task Force for Women's Enterprise.

The 1000 strong network will:

• be recruited by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) advised by Enterprise Insight, with each RDA asked to recruit over 100 entrepreneurs;
• have a focus on key stages of women's lives including younger women, women who have just had children and are taking stock of their future work plans and women whose children may now have left home; and,
• work with women in their communities, through education and in specific industries to inspire more women to start their own businesses.
  

Speaking at a conference on women's enterprise, organised by Prowess, Margaret said:

"We can't afford not to do this. There would be three quarters of a million more businesses in the UK if we matched US levels of female entrepreneurship. Successful women throughout the country can and must mentor and inspire many more women to think: 'yes I can do that' and take the confident plunge to start their own business.

"This will lead to a new women's movement that will push back gender barriers and give women the confidence and support they need to start a business."

Enterprise Insight has already recruited thirty ambassadors for the new women's enterprise network.

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