MORE than 1,000 women in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have started their own companies in the past four years with the help of Business Link Wessex.

The business advice agency started a series of Women Mean Business events to help boost the numbers of female owned firms.

Research shows that if the same number of women as men started businesses, the south-east's economy would be boosted by around 25,000 extra companies.

Regional development agency SEEDA aims to see 10,000 new women-owned businesses by 2010.

Jan Field, enterprise development manager at Business Link, thinks women need a specially tailored programme. She said: "Every business owner/manager needs to plan their business, find (and keep) customers and manage their money. However, women often lack confidence in their ability to run a business, usually because they have taken time out of work to raise their families and tend to have on-going caring responsibilities.

"Self-employment can be a way of balancing work/life, so building confidence as well as business skills is important. Women tend to be supportive of each other and accept help more readily, which is reflected in the style and approach of the women-friendly business support that Business Link offers."

For further information on services available from Business Link call 0845 600 9 006 or visit www.businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk.