Gender imbalance still rife in automotive

The automotive sector has the lowest proportion of female-run businesses, behind even construction and repair.

This is according to the latest research from Paymentsense. Data from the company’s 70,000 small business customers across the UK found that females are still underrepresented in traditionally male-dominated industries. The sectors with the least number of female-run businesses are construction (24%), repair (23%) and automotive (17%).

Paymentsense’s figures also suggest that just over a third (34%) of UK SMEs are now female-run.

Regionally, the South West of England has the highest proportion of female-run businesses, with almost two in five (39%) SMEs in the South West run by women, closely followed by nearby Wales where 36% belong to females.

The study also displayed how the balance of business ownership varies at the city level. Carlisle topped the city list with the highest proportion of female-run businesses (50%). Torquay is second with 47%, closely followed by Telford, Truro and Shrewsbury (all at 45%).

Of the 100 cities and towns analysed London sits in the bottom ten, with 30% of Paymentsense customer businesses run by females. It is Slough, however, which has the lowest proportion of female entrepreneurs with 26%. Also low on the list are Harrow (27%), Glasgow (28%) and Kirkcaldy (28%).