International Women’s Day 2024 – Celebrating Top Women In Business
It’s that time of the year again when we celebrate just how far women have come in the entrepreneurship world.
At the moment, we’ve seen more women in work than ever, yet we are still seeing inequality in pay, with women still having a 14.5% gender pay gap in the UK.
We believe we should still strive to imagine a gender-equal labour force, free of discrimination and focusing on inclusion.
By continuing to raise awareness about IWD and inequality, we can do our part in creating gender equality in the business world. #InspireInclusion
Celebrating Women’s Equality In Work
It’s true, till today, there is still a massive gender inequality for women in work when it comes to pay, but, compared to previous years, there are still notable achievements that we should celebrate on International Women’s Day.
For example, UK female entrepreneurs made £6.4bn from selling their businesses last year, which is up from £5.1bn three years before that.
The small number of women who are in STEM-related businesses has been highlighted in the previous years, but the UK has seen a 17.5% growth in applications from women from 2022 to 2023 for computing degrees, although still the minority.
What’s Holding Back Women In Work Still?
Despite the steady growth in women-led startups and businesses, women in work are still suffering massive inequality in the workforce.
For example, a study conducted by Boodle Hatfield, a private wealth law firm, said although there is growth in the value of the businesses sold by UK female entrepreneurs, they still only comprise 22% of businesses being sold.
Many studies show this is due to gender approaches in families, financial limitations, and different business sectors women choose to work in.
A huge factor is personal wealth and securing financial funding, with men’s bank loans increasing average business value by €96,500 (£84,582) for men and €174,545 for women.
Other than economic factors, women still struggle with confidence in their abilities, with a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research showing nearly 80% of women struggle with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work.
Notable UK Female Entrepreneurs
In honour of International Women’s Day, it wouldn’t be fair not to mention some UK female entrepreneurs who are currently inspiring us.
Renting Out Her Wardrobe – Eshita Kabra-Davies
Eshita Kabra-Davies has made the first UK fashion rental app called By Rotation, essentially renting out her wardrobe. It now shares over £50m in wardrobe fashion.
As stated by City AM, despite the cost of living crisis and trying to make it as a small business, Eshita Kabra-Davies says the real win of her business is being able to make women have their extra income to use in their day-to-day lives.
Top tip? Get off the sofa – Emma Jones
The founder of Enterprise Nation Emma Jones says a huge piece of advice to women starting businesses is to take advice early on. You can enroll in various online courses like StartUp UK or Tech Hub.
Meet other successful entrepreneurs in the same field and breathe in their ambition.
The Finalists For The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award
As the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman awards are approaching steadily, we’ve shared each finalist’s story to help inspire generations of women to be more daring in light of International Women’s Day.
Jenny Biggam
Founded in 2005, the7stars has been named one of the Best Companies for ten consecutive years and has managed over £450m of billings for clients such as H&M, Nintendo, and Royal Mail.
Francesca Brady
The Co-Founder and CEO of AirRated, Francesca gained recognition from Forbes 30 under 30 for heightening awareness of the link between indoor air quality and health.
Lyndsey Simpson
Lyndsey is the CEO of 55 redefined and focuses on promoting age equality, empowering and showcasing over 55’s talents, and helping them secure employment.
Elaine Bedell
CEO of the Southbank Centre, Elaine has kept 40% of events still free to attend, hosting notable events such as the BAFTAs and London’s film festival.
Tracy Blackwell
CEO of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), Tracy has a FTSE100-sized company with a portfolio of £45 billion, and around £12 billion is invested in the UK’s infrastructure.
A Special Mention
Samantha Worrell
An accomplished lawyer and Managing Director of the Gift Tailor. Samantha is a talented Entrepreneur who has an exceptional eye for detail and the ability to source and procure the most amazing gifts and staff packages on behalf of organisations. The Gift Tailor sources her products from local and bespoke artisan suppliers of hand-crafted products from the US and UK, ensuring each gift is personalised to the person receiving it. Bespoke gifting made simple and stress-free! – The Gift Tailor
A World Where Equality, Difference & Entrepreneurship Is Valued
We still have a long way to go where women in work feel included and equal; the gender pay gap is still a massive concern, with the OECD still predicted to take over 50 years to close the gender pay gap. But collectively we can all #InspireInclusion. By Celebrating women’s achievement. Raising awareness and taking action to drive gender parity.
At Kirkwood, we believe one of the most important steps to take as a business is to ensure this environment is established with the help of a leadership and training programme.
You can contact us here for any personalised requests.
