Analyzing Women Entrepreneurship in UK Small and Medium Enterprises

This report is a research proposal that investigates the role of women entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. It begins with an introduction outlining the research background, problem, significance, aims, objectives, research questions, and hypotheses. A comprehensive literature review follows, exploring the concept of entrepreneurship, drivers of female entrepreneurship in the UK, and factors contributing to their success. The research methodology is detailed, including the research philosophy (positivism), approach (deductive), data collection methods (primary and secondary), sampling, and data analysis techniques. The report aims to analyze the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, their motivators, and their contribution to the UK's economic growth, recommending ways to encourage women's entrepreneurship in SMEs. The conceptual framework illustrates the relationships between resources, motivations, psychological traits, problem reduction, innovation, and the success of women entrepreneurs. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, using questionnaires and secondary data from academic journals and government publications. Simple random sampling will be used to gather primary data. The report concludes with a research timeline.

Running head: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in UK
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Authors Note:

1WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
1.1. Research Background...........................................................................................................2
1.2. Research Problem and Significance.....................................................................................2
1.3. Aim and Objectives..............................................................................................................3
1.4. Research Questions...............................................................................................................3
1.5. Research Hypotheses............................................................................................................4
2. Literature Review........................................................................................................................4
2.1. Concept of Entrepreneurship................................................................................................4
2.2. Drivers of Female Entrepreneurship in UK..........................................................................5
2.3. Factors Contributing to Success of Female Entrepreneurship in SMEs of UK....................6
2.4. Conceptual Framework.........................................................................................................7
3. Research Methodology................................................................................................................8
3.1. Research Philosophy.............................................................................................................8
3.2. Research Approach...............................................................................................................9
3.3. Data Collection Methods......................................................................................................9
3.4. Sampling and Sample Size...................................................................................................9
3.5. Data Analysis......................................................................................................................10
3.6. Research Timeline..............................................................................................................10

2WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
References......................................................................................................................................12
1. Introduction
1.1. Research Background
Entrepreneur activity is observed to increase over the past few decades due to which the
profound structural changes taking place are offering new opportunities for entrepreneurs include
male and female. In most of the nations, majorly of businesses are now owned or managed by
women (Allen and Truman 2016). It has also been argued that over the recent years women
entrepreneurship has attained tremendous growth and the percentage of women in businesses
growth has increased. It has been evidenced that women entrepreneurs have successfully
implemented their creative, innovative and practical approaches in converting a business growth
opportunity into a commercial reality within the SMEs in UK. Moreover, the activity of the
women entrepreneurs is similar to entrepreneur process or activity (Cowling et al. 2015). This
basically associates with the opportunity recognition along with resource manipulation that is
necessary in developing a new firm long with ensuring subsequent growth and success of new
businesses.
1.2. Research Problem and Significance
In the current years, it has been gathered that due to increasing women entrepreneur
activities, opening of new businesses are considered as a source of innovation and job creation in
the SME sector of UK. For this reason, women entrepreneurship in UK represents economic
strength that is capable to attaining substantial sales and employment for women in UL SMEs.
Despite such contribution of female entrepreneurs in small business development, the economic

3WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
contribution of women is less researched (Burns 2016). Moreover previous literature did not
focus on analysing contribution of female entrepreneurship in creating new jobs and
unemployment reduction in UK SMEs. Considering such research problem, the significance of
the current research is to analyse the reasons for which there is a need to research women
entrepreneurship in UK SMEs. Moreover, it will also analyse the ways in which their personality
traits, availability if necessary resources and existence of motivators facilitates the women
entrepreneurs to play a vital role in new venture development and contribute to economic
development through supporting SME growth.
1.3. Aim and Objectives
The aim of the research is to analyse the role of women entrepreneurs in the small and
medium scale enterprises within UK. Focussed on such aim, the research objectives that are to be
attained through undergoing the current research are depicted below:
 To analyse the problems faced by women entrepreneurs face in development of their new
business
 To evaluate the motivators that ensures success attained by women entrepreneurs in UK
 To analyse the ways in which women entrepreneur activities in SMEs contribute to
economic growth of UK
 To recommend effective ways in which women entrepreneurship can be encouraged in
SMEs of UK
1.4. Research Questions
The research questions that are to be answered through completion of the current research
are indicated under:

4WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
 What are the problems faced by women entrepreneurs face in development of their new
business?
 What are the motivators that ensure success attained by women entrepreneurs in UK?
 What are the ways in which women entrepreneur activities in SMEs contribute to
economic growth of UK?
 What are the recommended effective ways in which women entrepreneurship can be
encouraged in SMEs of UK?
1.5. Research Hypotheses
The research hypotheses that are to be tested in the current research are indicated below:
 H1: The personality traits of UK women entrepreneurs that contributes to their success
 H2: Motivations of UK women entrepreneurs contributes to their success
 H3: Decrease in problems faced by women entrepreneurs can positively contribute to
their success
 H4: Resources viable to women entrepreneurs are positively related with their success in
UK SMEs
 H5: Entrepreneur activities of women entrepreneurs are positively related with their
success in UK SMEs
2. Literature Review
2.1. Concept of Entrepreneurship
Fletcher (2017) stated that entrepreneurship has attained considered arable interest and
the definition of entrepreneurship is specific focus on innovation, opportunities identification,
wealth creation and economic consequences that acts as major driver if the entrepreneur process.

5WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
These reasechers also explained that entrepreneur acts as an innovator who introduces something
new within the economy. Entrepreneurship can be defined as activities of an innovating
entrepreneur that acts as a translator of innovations into a new product or organisation.
Gbadamosi (2019) explained entrepreneurship as established disciplines including economics,
psychology, management and sociology that focus on establishing a new business resulting in
wealth and job creation along with economic growth.
2.2. Drivers of Female Entrepreneurship in UK
Ribeiro-Soriano (2017) stated that Female entrepreneurship has effective role in
developing the role of SMEs in UK. The existence of historical and cultural situations such as
technological, political, market and cultural development act as demand on encouraging women
that further creates opportunities for them. Schaper (2016) added that women entrepreneurship
has greatly concentrated on the entrepreneur development within the industrialised nations.
Innovativeness is also anther characteristics of women entrepreneurship as they are creative and
innovative trough using skills to solve problems and develop new strategies for business
development. These reasechers also stated that certain personality traits attained by the women’s
entrepreneurs such as need for achievement, power or interval locos of control, confidence and
risk taking capability are identified to be necessary characteristics that ensures success of the
entrepreneurs.
Fletcher (2017) indicated that there certain extrinsic and intrinsic motivators that ensures
women’s success as entrepreneurs in SME sector of UK. Extrinsic motivators include
dissatisfaction regarding employment and the intrinsic motivators’ incudes desire for
independence long with ability to balance the work commitments with having family
responsibilities. The research has also indicated that women primarily tend to become self-

6WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
employed basically for the intrinsic reasons. Fletcher (2017) indicated that certain positive
factors encouraging women into entrepreneurship encompass market opportunity, ambition and
experience increases desire for autonomy, personal growth along with increased job satisfaction.
The women entrepreneurs in UK SMEs perceive their businesses to be the best way to attain the
aspects that the system has failed to offer. Women entrepreneurs in UK support in growing
business in geographic size and scope that significantly contributes to the gross national product.
2.3. Factors Contributing to Success of Female Entrepreneurship in SMEs of UK
Paoloni and Lombardi (2017) indicated that female entrepreneurship m the developed
nations such as UK indicates the growth in the number of women in small and medium
entrepreneurs in UK. Certain factors that are observed to ensure success of female
entrepreneurship in UK SMEs include psychological factors and motivators. Piperopoulos
(2016) added that certain personal traits or characteristics facilitates in analysing the entrepreneur
behaviour along with pattern of business development activities. Such traits include locus of
control achievement need and high need of affiliation. Sharafizad and Coetzer (2016) stated that
certain range of factors such as psychological motivators like achievement, along with certain
push and pull factors in with push factors include family income and need for flexible work and
the pull factors based motivators are related with self-fulfilment, independence and desire for
social status and wealth.
These reasechers also confirmed that possession of certain human capital that includes
capabilities, business skills and knowledge attained from education, previous work experiences
along with the financial capital. Such factors are considered to differentiate successful women
entrepreneurs from the less successful ones. Ribeiro-Soriano (2017) stated that there are several
barriers that re faced by women entrepreneurs in the SME sector of UK that can be related with

7WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
infrastructure, social and cultural barriers, educational and occupational barriers along with the
role and behavioural barriers. These researchers also confirmed that poor access to market
information, technology and finance, poor linkages with having support services along with the
unfavourable policy as well as regulatory environment. It is confirmed that reduction of such
issues faced by UK based women entrepreneurs can ensure their success in developing SMEs in
the nation.
2.4. Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework indicted below indicated the relationship between the
resources based view, motivation factors, psychological traits, problem reduction and innovation
on success of the women entrepreneurs. From the framework indicted below will facilitate in
analysing the ways in which the independent variables impacts the dependent variable
(McGowan, Cooper, Durkin and O'Kane 2015). It also explains the role of women
entrepreneurship in increasing SMEs profitability that resulted in the economic empowerment,
job creation along with ensuring national economic growth. Other entrepreneur behaviour of
women along with their success forms the theoretical framework of the research that includes
psychological, motivational and resource based perspectives.

8WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Figure 1: Conceptual Framework
(Source: Authors Note)
3. Research Methodology
3.1. Research Philosophy
Current research intends to analyse the role of women entrepreneurs in development of
SMEs in UK. For his reason, the research will make attempt to analyse the challenges faced by
the women entrepreneurs along with their motivations to contribute towards growth of SMEs in
UK. Considering same, the research will employ positivism research philosophy through linking
the existing models and theories presented within the literature review section (Flick 2015).
Positivism research philosophy is based on the existence of reality through employing
scientifically proven approaches. Moreover, this philosophy cab also serves to be most effective
in dissecting suitable responses from the target respondents.
Success of
woman
entreprenuers
Resource
based view
Innovation
Reduction in
problems
Psychologica
l traits
Motivational
factors

9WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
3.2. Research Approach
As the reasechers will consider carrying out quantitative analysis for analysing the role of
women entrepreneurs in development of SMEs in UK, deductive research approach will be
employed in the current research. Deductive research approach can facilitate the reasechers in
evaluating the existing models and theories associated with the research subject through attaining
support from the collected data (Kumar 2019). Moreover, as positivism research philosophy will
be employed in support of quantitative analysis for this reason deductive research approach use
is deemed to be most suitable in attaining actual research results in consideration to the previous
trends, existing models and proven facts.
3.3. Data Collection Methods
Quantitative as well as qualitative data collection will be employed in analysing the role
of women entrepreneurs in development of SMEs in UK. Considering this, both primary and
secondary data will be gathered for the study. Primary data will be gathered from questionnaire
survey technique in which relevant questions related with the personality traits of women
entrepreneurs, resources need by them, their motivations and entrepreneur activities along with
the issues faced by them in new venture development in UK (Mackey and Gass 2015).
Secondary data will be collected regarding role and position of women entrepreneurs in SMEs of
UK through academic or peer reviewed journals, books and government publications in UK.
3.4. Sampling and Sample Size
Simple random sampling technique will be used by the researcher in selecting the most
revenant source of primary data in attaining data relevant to the aim and objectives of the study.
This sampling technique is considered suitable as it can facilitate in offer equal opportunities to
the target respondents from a large population to get chosen in the survey (Smith 2015). As it is

10WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
gathered that quantitative data analysis needs relatively larger size of sample in obtaining and
analysing respondents’ responses, a sample size of 50 women entrepreneurs of the SMEs in UK
was selected in analysing their responses. The section of this ample can facilitate in
understanding the research problem and can offer best information aligned with research
objectives.
3.5. Data Analysis
The data collecting from sample respondents will be analysed through employing several
analytical techniques and in consideration to same it can be stated that efficient selection of
statistical analytical techniques are import in obtaining suitable and pertinent conclusion. SPSS
statistical analytical tool will be employed in the research to gather valid research findings
(Silverman 2016). The gathered quantitative data will be represented in the form of graphs and
tables that can further simplify the data interpretation process. Implementation of the selected
statistical tool can also support the researcher in cornering consumer opinion into a definite
percentage for anticipating consumer insights trends.
3.6. Research Timeline
Activities 1st to
3rd
Week
4th to
10th week
11th
to 13th
Week
14th
to 17th
Week
18th to
21st
Week
22nd
to 23rd
Week
24th
Week
Selection of the topic 
Data collection from
secondary sources
 
Creating layout 

11WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Literature review   
Analysis and
interpretation of
collected data
  
Findings of the data  
Conclusion of the
study

Formation of draft  
Submission of final
work


12WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
References
Allen, S. and Truman, C., 2016. Women in business: Perspectives on women entrepreneurs.
Routledge.
Burns, P., 2016. Entrepreneurship and small business. Palgrave Macmillan Limited.
Cowling, M., Liu, W., Ledger, A. and Zhang, N., 2015. What really happens to small and
medium-sized enterprises in a global economic recession? UK evidence on sales and job
dynamics. International Small Business Journal, 33(5), pp.488-513.
Fletcher, A.J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 20(2), pp.181-194.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Gbadamosi, A., 2019. Women-entrepreneurship, religiosity, and value-co-creation with ethnic
consumers: revisiting the paradox. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 27(4), pp.303-316.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
McGowan, P., Cooper, S., Durkin, M. and O'Kane, C., 2015. The influence of social and human
capital in developing young women as entrepreneurial business leaders. Journal of Small
Business Management, 53(3), pp.645-661.

13WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Paoloni, P. and Lombardi, R., 2017. Exploring the connection between relational capital and
female entrepreneurs. African Journal of Business Management, 11(24), pp.740-750.
Piperopoulos, P.G., 2016. Entrepreneurship, innovation and business clusters. Routledge.
Ribeiro-Soriano, D., 2017. Small business and entrepreneurship: their role in economic and
social development.
Schaper, M. ed., 2016. Making ecopreneurs: Developing sustainable entrepreneurship. CRC
Press.
Sharafizad, J. and Coetzer, A., 2016. Women business owners’ start-up motivations and network
content. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 23(2), pp.590-610.
Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.
Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.