Scotland has done it again – we’ve kept our title as the best place in the UK for women in the workplace. That’s according to PwC’s latest Women in Work Index, which looks at things like job opportunities, pay, and representation.
It’s a big achievement, and one that should make us proud. Although, while we’re leading the UK, we can’t afford to get complacent – because there’s still a long way to go.
One of the biggest areas where we’re missing out? Women-led businesses. Research suggests that if women in Scotland started and grew businesses at the same rate as men, it could add a massive £8.8 billion to our economy.
That’s not just a win for women – that’s a win for all of us. But right now, female entrepreneurs still face bigger barriers than men when it comes to things like getting investment, building networks, and challenging outdated expectations.
Think about it. A man with a big business idea is far more likely to get funding than a woman with the same idea. In fact, UK-wide studies have shown that only about two per cent of venture capital money goes to female-led businesses. That’s shocking, and it’s a clear sign that the playing field isn’t level.
And then there’s the issue of support. We know that connections and mentorship make a huge difference in business success. But too often, women are left out of those key networks. Business has long been a boys’ club, and while that’s changing, it’s not happening fast enough.
The good news is that Scotland is in a great position to do something about this. We already have strong business support schemes, including grants, mentorship programmes, and investment funds aimed at female entrepreneurs. But we need to make sure women actually know about these opportunities – and that they’re easier to access.
Childcare is another massive issue. It’s no secret that women still take on the bulk of caring responsibilities, and expensive childcare can be a huge barrier to starting a business. Scotland’s free childcare system is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be expanded. If we really want more women in business, we need to make it possible for them to juggle work and family life.
It’s also about changing the conversation. Too often, we talk about women in business as if it’s just a “fairness” issue – but it’s much bigger than that. The reality is that diverse leadership leads to better businesses.
Companies with more women in charge are more innovative, more profitable, and more likely to succeed in the long run. And in Scotland, female-led businesses have already been outperforming expectations in key industries. Imagine what could happen if we fully unlocked that potential?
Take Kim Cameron, for example. She founded Gin Bothy and recently expanded into whisky production with The Bothy Distillery in The Angus Glens, run entirely by 22 women and looking to expand.
Or look at Marie Macklin, who leads The HALO Urban Regeneration Company, transforming the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant site in Kilmarnock into a £100 million urban regeneration hub.
These women are showing what’s possible when even some barriers are removed, and opportunities are embraced.
Scotland has already proven that we can lead the way on workplace equality. Now, we need to take it a step further. We should be aiming to be the best place in the UK – not just for women to work, but for women to build, grow, and lead businesses.
This isn’t just about fixing a problem. It’s about seizing an opportunity. If we invest in female entrepreneurs, we’re investing in Scotland’s economic future. So let’s stop talking about what women “can” do – and start making sure they have every chance to do it.
It’s time for action. The government must ensure funding and support systems are truly accessible to women. Investors need to step up and back female-led businesses with the same confidence they show male entrepreneurs.
And, as a society, we need to champion and celebrate the women who are already breaking barriers. Because when women succeed, Scotland succeeds.
Side
While it’s usually not high on the list of favourite subjects at school, there is no doubt maths is a core skill in life and in business.
That’s why I was pleased to see the Mackintosh family launch a new ‘Mathsnasium’ in Edinburgh over the weekend.
Located in the capital’s Morningside area, the Edinburgh South Mathsnasium is designed to help young people, ranging from Primary 1 pupils to Higher level maths students, to improve their skills.
The maths learning centre, which already has a cohort of Edinburgh students enrolled, has a team of expert instructors who combine personalised learning plans with mental, verbal, visual, tactile and written techniques to build maths knowledge.
The approach ensures that each student receives tailored instruction that meets their unique needs and learning styles, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
It’s refreshing to see this approach being taken to help engage children in maths, a subject which, as I stated above, may not be everyone’s personal favourite, but is crucial to future success.
The centre, which offers maths-only instruction with a focused, caring, and fun learning approach, will be ran by the highly-successful Mackintosh family – Lesley, Scott and Tara.
It’s really heartening to see their new venture is not only designed to be a success, but also hopes to give back to the community.
I’m sure we’ll see maths whizzes flying out of their door soon!
Laugh
I’ve heard of fast food, but a project an Edinburgh firm are about to commence sounds like it’s going to bring food to our tables in a far slower manner.
The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, who famously successfully cloned Dolly the sheep back in 1996, have been enlisted by the Food Standards Agency to see if lab-grown food would be safe for human consumption.
They call it cell-cultivated food products, or CCPs for short, and while it is early days, I’m unsure if there is a market for it.
I’m ready to be proven wrong, though, as, like I stated above with our old pal Dolly, The Roslin Institute are capable of incredible things.
Let’s just hope the first thing they serve up isn’t a lamb kebab!
Weep
Last week I was saddened to hear about the ongoing struggles of Albion Rovers – a grand, old Coatbridge institution.
The Lowland League club find themselves in a perilous financial situation, akin to the demise also felt this season by the likes of League One Clubs Dumbarton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Much like Dumbarton, they have been a fixture of Scottish football for way over a century, but have fallen on hard times of late.
Football plays a huge role in not only our culture in Scotland, but also our business landscape.
While there isn’t a huge amount of business sense in investing in a football club, I really hope someone comes along to rescue The Wee Rovers for the community.
