Female entrepreneurs are increasingly breaking through the glass ceiling – Collins

Fine Gael Cork North West TD, Aine Collins, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement that the amount of female-led start-up companies winning State investment has almost trebled in 12 months. Deputy Collins was speaking after the Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton TD, announced that 1,850 jobs will be created over the next three years by 122 High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) companies.

“It is encouraging to see that out of 103 HPSU companies which won support from Enterprise Ireland last year, 41 were headed up by women. This is a significant increase on the 2012 figure, when just 16 HPSUs which received State support were led by women. Now, 40% of projects winning State investment are female-led.

“This is a vindication of a number of initiatives introduced by Enterprise Ireland to increase the number of women involved in technology and innovation. During the hugely successful Web Summit in Dublin late last year, the low level of female attendees was frequently commented upon. We can’t just bemoan the lack of women involved in the high tech industry and expect the situation to right itself; we need to do something about it.

“Enterprise Ireland targeted a number of initiatives at women, such as the €500,000 Competitive Start Fund for Female Entrepreneurs aimed at stimulating high potential female-led business start-ups. This formed part of the drive by Enterprise Ireland to boost the number of innovative, export-oriented businesses being set up and led by female entrepreneurs.

“A HPSU is defined as an export oriented company which is based on technological innovation which is likely to achieve significant growth in three years, and which is led by an experienced team. It is extremely important that women are well represented in this field.

“Enterprise Ireland should be commended for their approach to boosting the number of high performing female-led enterprises. As a former business woman and now a female TD, I am all too accustomed to being the only woman at the table. Only a proactive approach can turn this around and ensure a better gender balance in business.”

ENDS