The job market uncertainty that came with COVID has hit women hard in fact, The International Labour Organisation has estimated that two-thirds of the jobs lost and that will not be recovered are women's jobs.

However, the pandemic seems to have kickstarted something of an entrepreneurial boom with more than 95,000 new businesses created between July and September 2020 in the UK, according to recent analysis of VAT, HMRC, Companies House data and business surveys, marking a 7.2% increase on the previous quarter.

There are now roughly 5.8 million small businesses in the UK and entrepreneurs are set to play a key role in the UK’s recovery, particularly e-commerce businesses. COVID has been horrific for bricks and mortar stores, but it has accelerated the need for businesses to modernise and invest in e-commerce.

While British women still lag behind our global sisters in terms of entrepreneurship we are beginning to push forward. Figures show females now make up a third of entrepreneurs in the UK and while historically, women have made up just over a quarter of the self-employed, most of the newly self-employed have been female in the last ten years.

Proving the old Eleanor Roosevelt adage, “a woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water” here are four women in Scotland who have taken the plunge and launched their new ventures during the pandemic.

Launched earlier this year, Home and Story was founded by, self confessed interiors addict Carly Carbarns, who was previously in marketing for global interiors brand, Houseology.

Carly has a passion for beautifully curated homeware and it shows in the exquisitely edited selection on her new online boutique, with exciting new items and brands dropping each week. “I have always loved finding independent designers and makers from around the world and discovering their designs and unique stories.”
From Madam Stoltz rugs and cushions to Vaiselle ceramics Home and Story is a interior lovers dream. www.homeandstory.co.uk

Ashley Bertram is an Edinburgh-based mum who has recently launched Dottie and Hope a gifting brand of locally sourced, eco friendly products designed to bring joy to the recipient. “It’s been a rubbish year I wanted to create a way of sending sentiments - when we haven’t been able to do it in person.

Each gift is individually wrapped to show the products have been chosen with consideration and are packaged with care within a perfectly tailored gift box to let someone you love know you’re thinking about them.”

Dottie and Hope brands include; Laura Thomas CO, COCO Chocolatier, Bearr Man and, Wildheart Organics and packaging is beautiful but kind to the environment. Ashley continues, “The green ethos of each of our partner brands is very much in-keeping with my own commitment of making best possible environmental impact choices.”

Cementing the brand’s thoughtful credentials Dottie and Hope is also working with the team at the CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) Charity and the families they support.

www.dottieandhope.com

Ruby Rose Harrigan from The Last Drop Jewellery

You have probably heard of “push presents” given to women after they’ve given birth, which is usually a piece of jewellery given by her partner to mark the occasion.

However, during lockdown Glasgow mum, Ruby Rose Harrigan decided a reward was due after an extremely challenging, at times painful but ultimately rewarding breastfeeding journey with her daughter Honey.

“My mum breastfed both my brother and I and my dad bought her a silver ring as a gift. Having had a tumultuous experience including mastitis five times I knew I deserved a treat at the end of the experience and thought about commissioning a signet ring or pendant necklace as a beautiful reminder of how strong I’d been.

I got thinking that if I’d been through this, perhaps other women had too and decided to design these keepsakes to mark the final precious feed, hence ‘The Last Drop’ name.”

Breastfeeding is not always easy and for many women it’s simply not possible to feed their babies this way but they still deserve recognition for their efforts.

Ruby Rose explains, “The Last Drop is for mums who’ve breastfed for days, weeks, months, years or perhaps didn’t manage to get past the first feed. They all deserve something special to celebrate their strength and their journey.”

The Last Drop Jewellery online shop launches 1st April.

Signet Ring £175 The Last Drop Jewellery

During lockdown, Laura Sutherland from Glasgow, decided to take the plunge and follow a lifelong dream of starting a food business, she had no idea that in the short space of four months, would be cooking up a storm in her home kitchen, making pickles and chutneys for her new online business, Wonky Pickles.

“I’d always wanted to open my own food establishment, like a bistro, but when you strip back what I really wanted to do, it was to get people’s tastebuds tingling and I thought a much quicker route to the customer would be to develop really tasty products and sell them online.

“I started by writing recipes and then testing products on local foodies, who were only too happy to give feedback. Christmas sparked an idea as people were looking for recommendations of local, independent businesses to buy presents from and it struck me that there was an opportunity to tap into the reinvigorated ‘homemade’ market.

“My recipes are all unique, but I have a focus on sustainability, using misshapen vegetables (which shops don’t like to sell and are likely to go to waste), where possible, buying local and using eco-friendly packaging.” Laura’s passion for creating and selling her tasty chutneys, pickles and piccalilli is keeping her bothe busy and positive, “Where I live in Glasgow has pretty much been in Tier 4 since September, so this has brought much-needed positive energy and I’m excited to keep pushing.”

Tangy Tom Chutney £4.75 www.wonkypickles.com

Have you started your own business during lockdown? Let us know your story by emailing Emma@hoodmagazine.co.uk

Sisters are doing it for themselves…