Research from the Babson Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2010 Women's Report from Babson College, finds that necessity drives women to start their own businesses in developing countries. In more-developed countries, 72% of women started businesses because they saw an opportunity for entrepreneurship.

The findings, show that more than 104 million women between the ages of 18 and 64 were involved in starting new businesses in 59 countries in 2010. In addition, as of 2010, another 83 million women had owned their own businesses for at least three years.

These challenges include the fact that women overall are still less likely than men to take the leap into entrepreneurship due mainly to a fear of failure. This reluctance can be due to the fact that only 47 percent of women believe they have the ability to start and run their own business, compared to 62 percent of men, the report said.

Google's three-month drive to provide advice and support to small businesses in Liverpool has "surpassed" its expectations and helped more than 1,500 companies and entrepreneurs.

The initiative, launched by Matt Brittin, the managing director of the internet giant's UK operations, was the first of its kind in the UK and provided access to free access to one-on-one digital support, including a pop-up 'juice bar' and free e-skills workshops.

"There is a lot of untapped potential for small businesses on the internet and we hope that our project in Liverpool has demonstrated how a wide variety of industries can benefit from having an online presence," said Emma Thorn, project manager of Getting Liverpool Business Online at Google UK.

"It's clear from the people we’ve spoken to during our Getting Liverpool Business Online programme that there is huge potential for online growth in the city. We hope that the work we've done and events we've held help the hundreds of businesses we’ve met to grow and become successful online, and in turn help boost Liverpool’s economy."

Between March and June 2011, the Government held a consultation seeking views on how it engages with and listens to women. Ministers and officials discussed and listened to the views of women directly through 19 events held across the UK.

On 4 November 2011, the Government published ‘Strengthening women’s voices in Government. A response to the public consultation’.

The top priorities women identified were: