The recent FSB Wales report on self-employment in Wales provides a useful snapshot of the current state of entrepreneurship and self-employment in Wales. The report reminds us that the number of self-employed people in Wales has grown by 15,000 between 2007 and 2016. So, nearly two out of every five new jobs created in Wales are actually self-employed. And across the UK, self-employment rates are now at their highest in 40 years. The report's sketching of the positive reasons underpinning these changes is also to be welcomed. 

But the report also outlines some of the challenges inhibiting the growth of self-employment and the entrepreneurial spirit. For a start, it outlines a striking disparity between different parts of Wales. Self-employment rates, it says, are lowest in the south Wales Valleys. The lowest rate in Wales, in Neath Port Talbot, is 8.6 per cent, and this is around a quarter of the rate in neighbouring Powys. In my own authority of RCT, the self-employment rate stands at just 9.8 per cent. 

I note that the Valleys taskforce delivery plan commits the Welsh Government to a range of actions to help address this—for example, the work around targeted business support to boost start-ups and encourage entrepreneurs. I also welcome the work around increasing the numbers of business units, and bespoke business advice to the 100 top Valleys businesses with the greatest potential for growth. Yet, there still remains an area where we must maintain focus to boost economic prosperity in what are, after all, some of the most disadvantaged communities in Wales. For that reason, I welcome today's Welsh Government announcement of the creation of two new hubs in the south Wales Valleys to boost entrepreneurship, and an additional £1 million for community entrepreneurship projects that specifically target people in less advantaged communities around Wales.

However, it is staggering to note the sharp gender disparity in terms of self-employment rates, and that's what I'd like to focus the rest of my contribution on today. For every woman who is self-employed, there are 2.3 men. Again, this disparity is worse in Valleys areas. It's a shame for me to note that the gulf is widest in my own home community of RCT. In my authority, there are three self-employed men for every self-employed woman. Of course, when we look at the raw data, we can miss the many excellent role models of women entrepreneurs out there. From my own constituency, I can think of Helen Walbey, who I would describe as a true renaissance woman. Helen is a policy chair at Federation of Small Businesses Wales, a part-time lecturer and a business mentor. But her real gender barrier-breaking background was in setting up a company called Recycle Scooters, a specialist company selling, servicing and repairing motor bikes, scooters and accessories.

Then there’s Rachel Bedgood, who established one of the largest pre-employment screening, disclosure and barring service providers in the UK. Rachel and her company have won numerous awards, and really are at the top of their game. Mandy St John Davey took on self-employed information and communications technology consultancy roles with large firms and the Welsh Office. Mandy then turned to property and launched an incredibly successful entrepreneurial career in this area.

Firmly embedded in the foundational economy, we have Sian Davies and her Garnish Cymru business, and Janette Leonard who offers her innovative Dial-A-Dinner enterprise, branching out to also provide healthy food alternatives.

But, of course, listing a few examples from Cynon Valley will not overcome all the barriers to entrepreneurial activity, and to women’s entrepreneurial activity in particular, but it does play an important role in one aspect, by highlighting a number of recognisable and relatable role models, not only encouraging women to think 'I could do that' but hopefully providing networks and mentors who can provide practical support.

Now, this was one of the recommendations on promoting female entrepreneurship that was made in the last Assembly by the cross-party group on women in the economy. I know there is a danger that good work carried out by CPGs can sometimes be sidelined, however the work of this group was crucial to understanding the barriers to women’s economic engagement. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor as Cynon Valley AM, Christine Chapman, who chaired this group. Christine, with her new life coaching business, is now one of those woman entrepreneurs we so desperately need in Wales, and in the Valleys in particular.

The CPG also recommended that we embed gender awareness in business support and enterprise education. It recognised the need to provide targeted interventions to specifically help women to start up and develop their own businesses. Business Wales and other support providers must engage with women entrepreneurs, and gender-disaggregated data must be gathered and reviewed to ensure that gaps are identified and addressed. The FSB report mentioned earlier notes a particular need to address the gender gap. I hope that this is a challenge we can look to take on today.