THE number of businesses run by women is set to double in the next decade as the recession helps boost an increase in "lipstick entrepreneurs", a new report predicted today.
Self-employed females will grow to two million after reaching a "tipping point" this year, according to a study by Avon and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
The report said that the recession had acted as a catalyst to the growth in female-owned start-up businesses.
Avon president Anna Segatti, said: "This report confirms a pattern already seen in history - that when the going gets tough, women see opportunities and run with them.
"Widespread redundancies have led many women to conclude that starting their own business no longer offers significantly less job security than contracted employment, offering women more in benefits in terms of family-friendly flexible hours in an environment unrestricted by glass ceilings.
"The Lipstick Entrepreneur has discovered she can have it all - balancing her family needs with her ambitious business goals."
Stephen Alambritis of the FSB, added: "We see a real need for increased government support for currently under-nurtured start-ups across the country.
"Whilst it is great to see female led start-ups take off in the UK this growth could be dramatically increased. If these female-led businesses in the UK were to get the same support and funding received in the US, we would see 900,000 more across the country."
The report also predicted that the number of female MPs will double over the next 10 years from 126 to 252, with the number of female chief executives in FTSE 100 companies increasing from just five in 2008 to over 50 in the same period.
A Department for Business spokesman said new measures to "further support and inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs around the country" would be announced shortly.
