Mothers\u2019 Day (or, more traditionally, Mothering Sunday) is a time to celebrate the role of the mother, but that role has changed over the last few decades. At one time, she\u2019d be in the kitchen, wearing a fetching pinny. Now, she\u2019s as likely to have a high-powered job \u2014 or even to own a business.<\/p>\n
Sue Beswick is the sole owner of The Resource Centre. Sue not only leads The Resource Centre but is also County Commissioner of Girlguiding Hertfordshire which is another demanding role.\u00a0 Combined with this Sue is also a mother!<\/p>\n
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Since gender equality began to be seen as a serious issue in the 60s and 70s, many areas of society have made giant strides, but the upper echelons of business have lagged behind. Even up to a few years ago, it wasn\u2019t uncommon for boards to be all male. Although that\u2019s rarer now, women are usually outnumbered, and only about 25% of FTSE 100 board-members are female.<\/p>\n
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In entrepreneurship, the role of women is growing. The increase in self-employment since 2008 has been largely female driven \u2014 80% of the newly self-employed between 2008 and 2011 were women. In 2013, RBS estimated that boosting female entrepreneurship could increase the UK economy by up to \u00a360bn.<\/p>\n
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The traditional excuse given for keeping women out of top jobs is that her role as wife and mother would prevent her from focusing on business. Leaving aside the fact that many women today choose not to be wives or mothers, it\u2019s true that finding the crucial balance between life and work can be harder for a woman with a family than a man with a family. More female-owned businesses close, and the reasons are more likely to be personal rather than business-related.<\/p>\n
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That doesn\u2019t mean, though, that it\u2019s unrealistic to be a mother and an entrepreneur. For one thing, it\u2019s seen as far more normal now for a couple to share childcare duties and, while still unusual, it\u2019s no longer regarded as bizarre if it\u2019s the man who stays home to look after the children.<\/p>\n
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The work-life balance is increasingly seen as vital in business, for men as well as women, and perhaps it\u2019s women\u2019s need to get it right that has driven this.<\/p>\n
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The growing female influence in business is obviously good for women, but the benefits are more general. Last year, then Business Secretary Vince Cable pointed out that \u201cThe evidence is irrefutable: boards with a healthy female representation outperform their male-dominated rivals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mothers\u2019 Day celebrates mothers everywhere. But don\u2019t forget, a woman can be the mother of a business, as well as of a family.<\/p>\n
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