A whopping 6000 women are missing from the 33,000 top spots in the workplace according to the Equal Opportunities Commission Sex and Power: Who Runs Britain? 2007 report.

A lack of flexibility at the top is blamed; senior women are too often forced to choose between work and family/leisure, resulting in a female exodus in search of an acceptable work/life balance.

So where are the missing female achievers? Statistics suggest that they are going it alone: over one million women in the UK are self-employed, and the figure has risen steadily by 18% in the last five years.

However if we want to maximise the use of our country’s female entrepreneurial talent we need to support them in their quests. A recent report by women’s enterprise group Prowess, identifies female mentoring and financial aid as being crucial to helping women entrepreneurs start-up and succeed in business.

Female led creative businesses have a tendency to try and grow organically from a low capital base. Businesses run in this way don’t tend to flourish; a business needs cash to blossom. Male entrepreneurs are well versed in the ways and means of funding a new business whilst women aren’t exposed to the mechanics of accessing finance. They also face tougher challenges when trying to raise it.

Claire Collins, founder of Violet May, the new beautiful business accessories brand, has first-hand experience of the difficulties facing a female run start-up. As a result the Violet May brand is passionate about fulfilling women’s needs.

“Women everywhere are crying out for inspiration and support to chase a dream and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit within. I believe that it is part of my responsibility as a woman in business to support young female entrepreneurs,” says Claire. “That’s why every time Violet May sell one of their luxury laptop bags or laptop sleeves, a percentage of profits will go into the Violet May Creative Seed Fund. Each year a budding female entrepreneur will be awarded these funds and mentoring support to help build her new creative business.”

By encouraging more companies and organisations to offer support and inspiration to the ‘6000 missing women’, perhaps they will no longer be classed as missing from existing top spots in the workplace but instead found sitting in their own top spots.