Press Room

Female Entrepreneurs Welcome Posh Spice and Jordan to the List of Inspiring Business Role Models
(13 November 2007)

Pin ups and pop stars join politicians in the definitive list of business icons

Celebrities including Victoria Beckham and Katie Price along with supermodel, Elle Macpherson, have featured on a new list of the most inspiring celebrity entrepreneurs. The late Anita Roddick and JK Rowling topped the recent poll, closely followed by Margaret Thatcher, Jacqueline Gold of Ann Summers fame and Martha Lane Fox. The research, by everywoman and NatWest, quizzed successful female entrepreneurs about role models and influences for women who want to run their own business.

The research explores the motivating factors for female entrepreneurs and whilst flexibility, work-life balance and being one's own boss were all cited, 86% of participants agreed that celebrity entrepreneurs play a positive role in encouraging women to set up businesses. The under 25s were three times more likely to be influenced by celebrity entrepreneurs over traditional role models (38% v 11%) demonstrating that their influence is shaping the next generation of business owners.

It seems the rise of the female celebrity entrepreneur is a welcome phenomenon, playing a vital role in encouraging more women to run their own business. Whilst 76% of women agreed that celebrity entrepreneurs make the idea of starting out in business more accessible, 70% still believe that there remains a lack of inspiring role models for women in business.

Karen Gill, co-founder of everywoman, comments, "Small businesses have been boosted by programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragon's Den alongside household names such as Anita Roddick and Martha Lane Fox, bringing entrepreneurs to the attention of the broader public. At another level the likes of Victoria Beckham and Katie Price are also inspiring younger generations of would be entrepreneurs. Their glamour and pin up status belie a savvy business sense that has seen both of them achieve phenomenal success thanks to hard graft and their sheer determination to succeed."

Steve Pateman, Chief Executive of NatWest Business Banking, said, "If the UK produced the same percentage of female entrepreneurs as the US, for example, Britain would gain three quarters of a million 1 more businesses, which would boost the UK economy.

"In light of this, anything or anyone that provides women with the inspiration to set up their own business, whether they be traditional female role models such as Nicola Horlick or more unconventional ones such as Katie Price, should be welcomed. As the profile of celebrity businesswomen becomes higher and their businesses more successful in the public eye, it is likely that an increasing number of female entrepreneurs will be inspired to follow their lead."

The research, undertaken by everywoman and NatWest, looks at the influence of "celebrity entrepreneurs" as role models for women in business. Over 1,000 2 business women with an average turnover of £1.3 million 3, were surveyed in an attempt to identify from where women's inspiration in business is derived. The full results of the research will be revealed at the National everywoman Conference in London on 14 November at which Martha Lane Fox will be the keynote speaker.

1 Gordon Brown, Advancing Enterprise Conference, 04.02.05
2 Total poll was 1,887 woman of whom 1,008 run or intend to run their own business
3 Average turnover was £1,294,426

Notes to Editors

The top 20 celebrity entrepreneurs identified by the research were:

  1. JK Rowling – author
  2. Anita Roddick – founder of The Body Shop
  3. Margaret Thatcher – first female Prime Minister
  4. Jacqueline Gold – CEO Ann Summers
  5. Martha Lane Fox – co-founder of lastminute.com
  6. Karren Brady – managing director of Birmingham City Football Club (youngest MD of UK plc)
  7. Delia Smith – cook, author, broadcaster
  8. Michelle Mone – founder of Ultimo lingerie
  9. Nicola Horlick – founder of Bramdean Asset Management
  10. Dame Stella Rimington – first female director of MI5
  11. Katie Price (aka Jordan) – model, author and business woman
  12. Deborah Meaden – Dragon’s Den panelist and business investor
  13. Chrissie Rucker – founder of The White Company
  14. Stella McCartney – fashion designer
  15. Tamara Mellon – founder of Jimmy Choo shoes
  16. Clara Furse – first female CEO, London Stock Exchange
  17. Victoria Beckham – performing artist, author and designer
  18. Elle Macpherson – model and business woman
  19. Kelly Hoppen – interior designer
  20. Rebekah Wade – editor of The Sun
  • Interview requests – Karen Gill is available for comment and/or interviews about the research. Call the everywoman press office on 020 7631 1000 to arrange.
  • About everywoman - Founded in September 1999, Everywoman Ltd is the leading provider of valuable and practical resources and services for women in business. Its mission is to encourage and enable women in business to fulfill their aspirations by creating opportunities, developing products, delivering services, fostering community and providing a voice for its 30,000 members – information can be found at www.everywoman.co.uk
  • NatWest is the leading bank for small business. With a network of over 1,600 branches and 1,681 Business Managers, no one is better placed to help businesses succeed. NatWest recognises the contribution that female business owners make to the UK economy and is proud to work with organisations that promote women’s enterprise. For more information on NatWest’s support for businesses please visit www.natwest.com/smallbusiness or call 0800 028 2677.