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How Do British Female Entrepreneurs Smash The Glass Ceiling Successfully In The Male Dominated World?

Abstract

With a steady increase in the number of female entrepreneurs in the U.K., more and more women break the ‘glass ceiling’, which limit their own businesses development even if they have incredible abilities. Successful female entrepreneurs take advantage of their quality strengths and enhance their management styles by cooperating with their employees and create a harmonious atmosphere at home. Combined with their strong motivations, they try to overcome the difficulties around their business environment and multiple roles by support from their families and networks. The influences which trigger their determinations toward starting up their business is first described, followed by an outline of possible difficulties they faced and support they received. How they manage their own business is then identified. Finally, case study is given on a British successful entrepreneur- Anita Roddict, the founder of The Body Shop.
Introduction
The work of a Woman is like a vein of water flowing underground, secretly making the ground greener. (The Self-employed Women’s Association in India).

An increasing number of women start their own enterprises in the United Kingdom and the overseas marketplace. They not only contribute to financial and social aspects, but also prove their abilities in a dominant male world.

According to Philip Wickham (1998), an entrepreneur can be defined as a congregation of ‘a manager’, ‘an agent of economic change’ and ‘an individual’, which means they will conduct the ‘tasks’ as managers, are able to affect and alter the economy, with entrepreneurial characteristics. It this essay, woman entrepreneur refers to ‘female self-employment’ and ‘business ownership’. They manage and own their businesses almost wholly. (Carter & Shaw 2006)

This essay begins with a general illustration toward to recent situation of women’s enterprises in the U.K. It then goes on to consider the possible motivations which...