ABSTRACT
Women’s entrepreneurship has garnered recognition in many parts of the world, calling attention to the value women entrepreneurs offer society. According to European Training Foundation research, to strengthen the entrepreneurial competences and business potential of women it is necessary to broaden business advisory structures for women engaged in various stages of entrepreneurial activity (ETF, 2013). According to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation (2014) there are six best practices for creating female entrepreneurship programmes: advocacy on women’s business issues; networking; business management assistance and support; access to contracts; leadership development and mentoring; access to capital. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2012 Women’s Report, the most comprehensive research about the entrepreneurial activity of women across the globe, more than 126 million women entrepreneurs were starting or running new businesses in 67 economies in 2012 (Kelley et al., 2012; Watson, 2013). Research shows that on the next step after start-up business – growth factors influencing the growth of women-owned businesses – are motivation for entrepreneurship, motivation for wealth, work-life balance and outside advisers (NWBS, 2013).
