Women now account for nearly half of all of Scotland's start-up businesses, a new report reveals.
Research by Scottish Enterprise found that women set up 3,600 of the 8,570 new businesses launched in Scotland in the 2004-05 financial year, a 42% share.
The figure is up on the 38% who started companies during the previous 12 months and marks a significant leap over the 30% who went into business in 2000.
One such entrepreneur, Charlie Taylor, who set up her hairdressing company in Perth in 1987, said women's increasing business confidence is set to transform the entrepreneurial landscape.
"Women are just as capable of achieving as much business success as men, and I think we are just at the beginning of a tidal wave of change which will see many more women at the forefront of enterprise in Scotland and beyond," Taylor said.
Taylor will be one of several guest speakers at newstartscotland's second annual conference for women entrepreneurs.
The organisation, which provides support for existing and wannabe women entrepreneurs, will host the event in association with Business Gateway in March.
