Women-led SME employers - Survey Results

19th February 2025

11 per cent of women-led SME employers had exported goods or services outside of the UK in the previous 12 months (compared to 13 per cent equally led, 14 per cent with women in the minority and 17 per cent entirely male-led).

73 per cent of women-led SME employers made a profit/surplus (compared to 80 per cent equally led, 63 per cent with women in the minority and 83 per cent entirely male-led).

75 per cent of women-led SME employers had listed a social and/or environmental goal as being important to them over the last 5 years (compared to 67 per cent equally led, 75 per cent with women in the minority and 62 per cent entirely male led).

The most reported obstacles to the business success of women-led SME employers in Cohort B were taxation/VAT/PAYE/ National Insurance and business rates (56 per cent), regulation/red tape (53 per cent) and the level of energy prices (50 per cent).

The above is an extract from the Scottish Government small Business survey published 19 February 2025