Women are “Disadvantaged” in Business and deserve funding because they are women!

Well, Business Link East seems to think so.  They have women in a category of “Disadvantaged” and so they still qualify for Start up vouchers along with ethnic minorities, young people at risk, people over the age of 50, disabled, and long term unemployed*

So how do other people feel about this?

My personal view is that I would like to see any form of business funding being directed towards those businesses that are likely to grow and develop and employ other people regardless of age/sex/race etc or where it is means based in line with the business owners individual circumstances.

I’m sure it is unlikely to be an issue for long if vouchers get removed completely as other regional development agencies are already in a situation where they don’t offer any financial support to new starts.

But the point I am making in this blog is about why Women in particular are included in the “disadvantaged” category.

Surely it is wrong that a white male aged between 30-50 gets naff all funding under this scheme regardless of needs of the business and him as a business owner when it could just be the small boost that he needs to get his business off on the right footing and then go on and employ others as a result of that small amount of support.

And who makes these decisions anyway?  What are they based upon?

I certainly do not see myself as “disadvantaged” because I am a woman.  OK, I will admit that my parking is awful but it doesn’t hold me back in the business world!

Someone at Business Link said to me that this decision was because women have been very good at demonstrating and campaigning about their disadvantages in business because of difficulties around having children and this is why we have been recognised for extra funding.

I don’t get it.  I know I shouldn’t complain because I am lucky to be a disadvantaged woman (!) but honestly, what a complete load of codswollop!

Surely the right sort of mindset and mentality is needed to run a business regardless of age/sex/race and being a woman has zero influence.  It’s quite insulting really.

So what are your thoughts?

*This wording and description is approximate and exact criteria should be checked with Business Link directly.

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