Launch of new MP Group focusing on women and enterprise

Online, January 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A new group of MPs has today been launched in order to examine the obstacles that currently stand in the way of more women becoming entrepreneurs.

The group of MPs will meet with experts from business, academia, government and think tanks and will bring forward concrete recommendations for progress.

Chair of the Women and Enterprise Group, Lorely Burt MP, said: "Women make up 51% of the UK population and 47% of those active in the labour market, but they are seriously under represented in setting up small businesses. Only 15% of UK businesses are owned by women. This is something that needs to change."

Helen Brand, ACCA Chief Executive, said: "ACCA is proud to be acting as secretariat for this group. Its aims are very much in line with our core values of opportunity and access, and we look forward to supporting the group in its future work programme which will be examining key issues including access to finance for women and the importance of diversity of supply."

Meg Munn MP, Vice Chair, added: "This group aims to highlight the issues that prevent more women from becoming entrepreneurs and to start proposing solutions. We'll also be looking at best practice from other countries around the world - for example, if the UK matched US levels of female entrepreneurship, there would be 900,000 more businesses in the UK."