The Minister for SMEs, Self-Employed Workers and the Middle Classes, Eléonore Simonet, has made women-led entrepreneurship a priority of her SME Plan. The Plan indeed devotes 10 of its 89 measures to this issue.
“Women are increasingly starting businesses, but they continue to face specific obstacles throughout their entrepreneurial journey. My goal is clear: to ensure that every woman who wants to create or grow her business finds the tools, networks and financing needed to succeed,” says Minister Eléonore Simonet.
Women's entrepreneurship is growing in Belgium. Today, 35.9% of self-employed workers are women, compared to 33.6% in 2009. Since then, the number of women entrepreneurs has increased by 51.7%, compared to 37.2% among men.
This progress is particularly encouraging among younger generations: women make up 37.1% of self-employed workers aged 18 to 30, and 38.4% among those aged 30 to 40.
However, this progress should not mask the persistent difficulties. Women continue to face specific obstacles when they want to start a business, access financing, grow their activity or hire staff. They are also more often active on a part-time basis than men (33.1% compared to 22.9%), reflecting an economic potential that remains insufficiently tapped.
Certain categories remain particularly under-represented, especially in the construction, digital technology, industry and defence sectors.
It is in this context that the Minister has taken two measures in particular: a call for projects to support organisations that help women set up and grow their businesses, and the launch of a national map of women entrepreneurs' networks, to make it easier for them to access existing support structures.
A call for projects to remove barriers
It also draws on the findings of a qualitative study conducted by the FPS Economy on women entrepreneurs' access to financing. This study highlights, in particular, a significant need for support to better understand financial issues, prepare a financing application or learn how to invest.
The call for projects thus aims to reduce the barriers faced by women when starting or growing their business, to strengthen their financial inclusion and to promote the creation of strong networks, essential for sharing experience, mentoring and the emergence of inspiring role models. The aim is also to promote and enhance the image and visibility of women entrepreneurs, with particular attention to sectors where women are under-represented (digital infrastructure, STEM, construction, defence, industry, etc.).
It is aimed at non-profit organisations, or those not exclusively profit-driven, active in supporting business creation or development, or in promoting women-led entrepreneurship.
Projects may in particular focus on:
- training, coaching and mentoring programmes;
- financial support pathways;
- initiatives promoting access to financing and investment;
- actions to encourage women, including students, to become entrepreneurs;
- networking events;
- the promotion of successful female role models, particularly in sectors where women remain under-represented.
Three projects will be selected: one in Wallonia, one in Flanders and one in the Brussels-Capital Region. Each will receive a grant of €50,000, for a total budget of €150,000.
A national map of women entrepreneurs' networks
To make support more visible and accessible, the Minister is also launching a national map listing the main networks of women entrepreneurs active in Belgium.
This platform brings together organisations specialised in supporting women entrepreneurs and is organised into three categories:
- nationally focused networks;
- regionally focused networks;
- international networks.
The aim is to allow every project leader or business owner to quickly identify the network best suited to her needs, whether for mentoring, training, financing or growing her business.
“Networks often make the difference between a good idea and a successful project. By making these structures more visible and supporting those that provide concrete support to women, we want to create an environment where more women dare to start businesses, grow and create jobs,” concludes Eléonore Simonet.