Empowering Women in Business 2019
With October being the month of Women in business and the BFA’s empowering women summit around the corner, here at Award Leisure we want to talk about empowering women in the corporate world!
Today not only are female entrepreneurs recognised within industries, but women are starting to own businesses and manage in record numbers.
‘In the years we have been running the Women in Franchising / Business event, working culture has changed so much. I have seen a lot of progress’ – Pip Wilkins (CEO of the bfa)
At Award Leisure we have an employee ratio of 50% females. We encourage and empower women in our business and allow equal opportunities across all sectors. Women are essential to the success of our operation. We have equal % of both females and males in Management roles, that’s well over the UK average of 29% females holding a senior management position. Catalyst.org/research/women/in-management – 7/08/2019. We are true believers that both gender characteristics are valuable in organisations and need equal representation. However, we are also dedicated to employing the RIGHT staff, regardless of gender. The best person should be employed for the role.
The glass ceiling should no longer exist or be a stigma in business for females in today’s society. It is important as individuals to appreciate the value of working in diverse teams, learning and benefiting from different cultures and sexes. Here at Award Leisure we have 3 females which sit on the board, according to McKinsey, companies across all sectors with the most women on their boards of directors significantly and consistently outperform those with no female representation – by 41% in terms of return on equity and by 56% in terms of operating results 1 . 89% of women in employment are working as employees, compared to 81% of men. Around 11% of women are self-employed compared to 19% of men. Although this percentage has increased for women over the past decade 2 .
Award Leisure aim to have more female representatives throughout their organisation, as employees, management and franchise business owners. As Award Leisure franchisees, you will have the support of a national brand and proven business model, training and support as well as personal dedicated backing from their female Franchise Development Manager, who has recently received her Qualified Franchise Professional status.
What makes women right for business? The real question should be…what doesn’t?
Studies have shown over the last 10 years that women have superior communication skills, are key net-workers and less prone to financial failure, which is a brilliant quality to have as a business owner. These are traits that are perfect for becoming a franchisee.
The percentage of women who own their own franchises has risen by 50% in the last 5 years…we want this to increase.
Now is the time for women in business!
1] The Bottom Line: Corporate performance and women’s representation on boards, Catalyst 2007
