City a place for women to succeed; Liverpool voted best location for female business entrepreneurs.

Byline: BY SOPHIE FREEMAN Daily Post Staff

LIVERPOOL has been voted the most desirable business location in the North West for female entrepreneurs.

More than 57% of Liverpudlians agreed the city offered sufficient help and guidance for entrepreneurs, in a survey commissioned by female business support group Everywoman and Natwest bank.

In addition to citing the amount of help offered in Liverpool, participants in the research said the radical redevelopment of the city alongside its upcoming status as European City of Culture in 2008 meant that Liverpool presented itself as an attractive centre for start-ups.

Manchester, Warrington, Chester and Preston also featured in the top five North West locations for female entrepreneurs, while Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Blackburn were deemed the least attractive to women setting up in business.

The researchers also asked successful businesswomen across the North West to identify the factors they believed have contributed to their success. They said that determination and self belief far outweighed the age-old management adage of 1 % inspiration and 99% perspiration.

The survey found that women in business are achieving a good work-life balance, with the average number of working hours per day coming in at an achievable eight-and-a-half. Only one in 30 of those surveyed said that putting in the hours was the single most important factor when starting up a business.

While many of the findings were positive, more than half the participants believed there was still work to be done in improving advice and guidance for women seeking to turn their business dreams into reality.

Everywoman was founded in September 1999. A spokeswoman said: "Our mission is to enhance members' entrepreneurial skills and aid them in building the best business they can, by providing a range of opportunities for women to grow their businesses and develop their skills through our conference, training, networking and awards programmes."

Karen Gill, co-founder of Everywoman, said: "The new research indicates that success is directly related to the determination factor. This is great news for aspiring female entrepreneurs and shows that with self belief and perseverance,

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