View from Across the Atlantic Shows Economic Benefits of Needs Based Business Support

Attendees of the forthcoming Cross Party Group on Women in Enterprise will enjoy unique insights into the benefits of the women’s business centre model at today’s session.

Corinne Goble, CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) will discuss the economic returns being generated in the US when she joins delegates for the final Cross Party Group of the current Scottish Parliament session today (Monday 16^th March) at 12 noon.

This comes on the back of the recent publication our Manifesto, which calls for the £50m commitment made by the Scottish Government in 2021 to a women’s business centre model to be activated.

Carolyn Currie MBE, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Scotland;

“We are delighted that Corrine is giving her time to illustrate the impact of the women’s business centre model in the US. The data is clear. For every $1 invested, $6 is generated by new businesses and $7.5 is generated in private capital, spurring $15 in economic activity. Similar returns in Scotland would see a return of £300m from new businesses, £375m in private capital for women-led businesses, spurring £750m in economic activity.”Scotland's aspirations for inclusive economic growth face a critical challenge as recent data reveals an increasing threat to the sustainability of women's entrepreneurship.

Data from the longitudinal Small Business Survey^[1] shows women-led employer businesses have dropped from 20% to just 16% in a single year. Despite women leading 54% of business start-ups, the post-start-up attrition rate in Scotland has escalated to 70%, meaning seven in ten women who successfully launch businesses are closing within the critical establishment phase.

Carolyn continues;

“Having such a large and disproportionate number of promising women-led start-ups fail to make it through to the post start-up phase is unproductive for our economy. Switching to a more needs-based and proven model of economic development would bring considerable economic and societal benefits.  It is time to rethink the current system, which is allowing a wealth of ambition, energy and economic potential to simply fall by the wayside.”

During a recent visit to the US, Women’s Enterprise Scotland signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Women’s Business Centers, kicking off a collaboration to learn from each other, strengthen connections and create opportunities for women entrepreneurs across borders.

Also joining the CPG will be Jill McAlpine, who will speak of her work and research with Highland Women Growth Summit 2026 and Ailsa Clark of InspirAlba, who will highlight the latest research on women in social and community led enterprise.

Places are still available to join the Women in Enterprise CPG online today at 12 noon. To secure your space, please email sophie@wescotland.co.uk.

^[1] Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2024: SME employers (businesses with 1 to 249 employees), UK Government Department for Business & Trade (September 2025)