Women are playing a huge part in the non-profit sector in Birmingham, according to new research.
The findings from the Bank of Scotland Corporate say 51 per cent of applications to the company’s £6m social entrepreneur awards have been received from women, with 5.5 per cent of them coming from Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The Bank of Scotland’s head of specialist banking Sarah Kerr said they had already realised that women tended to occupy more senior positions in the not-for-profit sector than in profit making enterprises, but the high figure of 51 per cent took them by surprise.
“With 5.5 per cent of these female entrants coming from Birmingham and the West Midlands it’s a sign that the region’s female business community is certainly driving the not-for-profit sector forward,” she said.
“The total volume of applications to the social awards exceeded all our expectations and the strong response in Birmingham demonstrates that the not-for-profit community in the region values the support and commitment on offer.
“Many profit making businesses are experiencing some tough times but we’ve been seeing entries from not-for-profit organisations which are performing really strongly and providing valuable social benefits in Birmingham and throughout the UK,” she added.
Two social entrepreneur awards are on offer from the Bank of Scotland with the first one offering up to £5m interest free and arrangement fees for three years, or a one off cash donation of up to £500,000.
The second prize offers up to £1m interest free and arrangement fees for three years, or a one off cash donation of up to £100,000.
The winner of each award will also get three days’ mentoring from one of the UK’s best known social entrepreneurs.
