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Home | Women's Work and Pay | Working and Living | Early years and childcare | Diversity and Difference: Minority ethnic mothers and childcare

Diversity and Difference: Minority ethnic mothers and childcare

Women now make up nearly half the workforce of the UK, double the number of 25 years ago. Black and minority ethnic women’s position in the labour market is also changing and 752,000 are now in employment. The Government wants to support mothers and fathers to balance the demands of work and home.

An important consideration that impacts on whether women return to work is the availability of sensitive and affordable childcare and the Government attaches great importance to addressing the needs of minority ethnic groups.

On 13 January 2004, the Women and Equality Unit co-hosted an event with the National Black Women’s Network, to launch an important piece of research that looks specifically at childcare provision for black and minority ethnic mothers and how this impacts on employment decisions including self-employment and starting a business. The Minister for Women, Jacqui Smith was present at the event that was attended by over 130 women with an interest in this area.

The audience were presented with the key findings of the report highlighting the interest that was expressed in the study from black and minority ethnic women for setting up their own childcare businesses.

Small Business Service discussed how they are aiming to increase the number of minority ethnic women business start-ups and the Department for Education and Skills provided information on how to access childcare business support. Case studies were presented from minority ethnic women who run their own childcare businesses to share their experience about setting up a childcare business.

The panel