With more than a third of the UK population expected to be over fifty-five by 2025, the number of female entrepreneurs starting and growing ventures at fifty is increasing.

The more knowledge we have about their motivations and needs, the more likely we are to be able to offer the right encouragement and support. We still do not have a complete understanding of these issues. This exploratory study seeks to fill the gap and find out more about women who start ventures at fifty or over.

In this study, the following questions are addressed:

• What motivates female entrepreneurs to start a business at the age of fifty or over?
• What resources are available to them and what help do they require?
• Do their situations, needs and resources differ from those of women entrepreneurs who are younger?

The full paper is now available for you to download below, let us know what you think in the comments box.