Scottish investor and entrepreneur Ana Stewart is set to chair the Women in Enterprise Review, recently commissioned by the Scottish Government.

The ‘Stewart Review’ will focus on several areas, including education, access to finance and funding, and advice, support, and mentoring for women in business in Scotland.

Commenting on the review, Stewart said: “We have set out to examine current conditions, and to then make recommendations on any perceived gender gap in business ownership and opportunity in Scotland.

“The report will recommend short, medium, and longer term interventions aimed at helping to address any barriers facing women in enterprise.”

Stewart said she is also placing importance on delivering robust and resilient data sets, so progress can be benchmarked and measured over the coming years.

“Utilising resilient and relevant data to inform the review and act as the template for the measurement beyond is going to be key. As they say, what gets measured gets done!” Stewart continued.

She added: “The review presents a clear opportunity to subsequently put in place systems and networks that give women the support they need to fully realise their business ambitions.”

Judy Wagner of FWB, Jackie Waring of AccelerateHer and Gemma Hamilton of Business Growth Fund have joined the Review team to support Ana with specific workstreams.

The Women in Enterprise Review is set to close its discovery phase in April, with full findings and recommendations expected by the end of September.

Stewart previously founded and floated IT specialist i-design Group, which was subsequently acquired by US-based ATM group Cardtronics Inc in 2013.

Additionally, she is a partner with St-Andrews-based investment firm Eos Advisory, a Non-executive Director with the Scottish Football Association, and sits on the board of online pet wellness startup Bella & Duke and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.

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Stewart continued: “What has been incredible so far, is the support, feedback, and intelligence we have received from across the Scottish business scene. I really can’t thank all our contributors to date enough.”

The Scottish Government has committed funding of £50 million over the course of the next parliament to support women in enterprise.

Finance and Economic Secretary Kate Forbes recently said: “It is clear that, collectively, we must do more to address the gender gap in business participation in Scotland.

“I have commissioned experienced entrepreneur and investor Ana Stewart to lead a short-term review of how best to target that support and help more women realise their business ambitions.”

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