This year sees the very first Business Mum Week and not before time.<\/p>\n
Female owned businesses are a growing strength in the UK economy, bringing in \u00a34.4 billion a year.<\/p>\n
The convenience of working from home stretches far beyond lower start up costs.<\/p>\n
New parents can earn their own money without having the hassle of working in an inflexible organisation that won’t take into account chicken pox, in-service days or family commitments.<\/p>\n
A huge 74 per cent of women started up their business before their child was two years old and the internet is aiding their success. Nearly one third of mummy businesses are net based.<\/p>\n
The new Business Mum Week will take place from Saturday 3 \u2013 10 of October and is being run by two big forces in the drive to support mums into self-employment.<\/p>\n
MumsClub, the online business club for mums is behind the business week and is being supported by PR expert and author Antonia Chitty of Family Friendly Working.<\/p>\n
They are aiming to use the week to inspire more entrepreneurial mums to start a business from home and give them access to information and support through a national network of home-working Mumpreneurs.<\/p>\n
MumsClub founder, Jane Hopkins, said: \u201cThis is the perfect time to launch this business mum week. We are in a recession and women with families are looking for options. With so many reports of redundancies and the future potential for job losses, it has never been a more important time for families to have options. Being self employed is the perfect way to combine family life with generating a second income into the home. Women now have the freedom to get paid to do something they love. Great for household finances, great for self esteem, great for the work-life balance.<\/p>\n
“Starting up from home is low cost, low risk, and from a personal point of view, is incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Activities will be held across the UK, including local networking meet-ups and workshops. A copy of The Business Mums Journal will be given away free at events to help mums turn their dreams into a reality.<\/p>\n
In the lead-up to the week, MumsClub is inviting all mumpreneur businesses to enter the free Mumpreneur Awards. Nomination forms are now available online. Winners of the awards will be announced at the Mumpreneur Annual Conference on Saturday 3 October at City Inn, Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Antonia Chitty, of Family Friendly Working and head of PR for Business Mum Week said: \u201cThis is a great initiative and I\u2019m happy to support it in any way I can to ensure more women with children are aware of the family friendly working options out there. This is a great way to both highlight the work of mum owned businesses and support the growth of more.\u201d<\/p>\n