National legal service LawBite leads the way as a Champion of Women in Business…
LawBite has become a founder member of the Charter for Women in Business, just launched by Prowess, which aims to close a business development gap costing the UK economy billions each year.
More women are starting their own business than men in the UK for the first time ever. These women are ambitious. Some 14% want to hire more staff this year. With nearly 1 million women-led SMEs in the UK that could mean around 140,000 new jobs, according to a government report.
But despite the start-up surge and clear ambitions, women’s businesses aren’t accessing the same level of support and they are less likely to survive and grow than men’s businesses. The Charter for Women in Business is a practical initiative to close the gender gap.
LawBite is a revolutionary online legal service, which provides Simple Law for Small Companies. They unite technology with the law to make it more accessible and affordable. On their platform sits a suite of legal documents with the tools to edit, share e-sign and store them as well as expert advice at the click of a button. As they have done away with unnecessary overheads plus the typical legal partnership structure, they are able to keep costs low.
Their flexible working structure is advantageous for all but particularly for women who have childcare responsibilities. For example, many of their lawyers are working mums who had previously worked at more traditional law firms who do not allow for the flexibility needed. They were recently shortlisted for the Working Mums Innovation in Flexible Working Award.
“We have signed up for the Charter as we believe fervently in supporting women in business. Our online legal service makes the law far more accessible and affordable for women wishing to start a business and our own company’s flexible working policy also reflects that” says Lizzie Knight.
Prowess Director Erika Watson, who was awarded an MBE for services to women’s enterprise, says:
“The Charter builds on international best practice and more importantly the women we’ve surveyed give it their full approval. We’re inviting business support and services providers to join LawBite by signing up to the Charter and let their staff and clients know that they are serious about sharing in women’s business success.”
The Charter for Women in Business is available online at charter.prowess.org.uk. It includes a code of practice, online training and marketing tools which will better equip supporters of start-ups and small companies to reach and support the growing market of women in business.
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Tags: Business Information Portal, Erika Watson, Law, LawBite, Lizzie Knight, National, Prowess, SMEs, The BIP, women in business
