Scottish Government

Summary: Business, Enterprise and Tourism

Age

• In 2012, the majority of small to medium-sized enterprise owners and co-owners in Scotland fell in the 45 to 54 (29%) and 55 to 64 (32%) age categories.  The proportion in the 35 to 44 and 65 and over age groups were smaller at 15% and 16% respectively.  The proportion in the younger cohort was much smaller – just 8% were under 35.
• In 2007/08, the majority of small to medium-sized enterprise owners and co-owners in Scotland fell in the 35 to 44 (18%), 45 to 54 (35%) and 55 to 64 (28%) age categories. The proportions in younger and older cohorts were much smaller - just 7% were aged under 35 and 12% were aged 65 and over.
• The proportion of small to medium-sized enterprise owners and co-owners decreased in the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 age groups between 2007/08 and 2012.  The proportion increased between these years in the under 35, between 55 and 64 and 65 and over cohorts.

 Sources: Small Business Survey 2007/08  and  Small Business Survey 2012

 

• In 2012, although those aged 65 and over made up a small share of all those self employed (8.9%), those aged 65 and over had the highest self employment rate. In 2012, 39.1% of those aged 65 and over in employment were self employed compared to an overall self employment rate of 12.2% for Scotland as a whole. 

 

Source: Annual Population Survey (January to December)

  

Useful Links

Age and Business, Enterprise and Tourism page

Age Page

Disability

• In 2012, 16% of small to medium-sized enterprises in Scotland included at least one owner or director with a disability.  This figure has remained unchanged from 2007/08.

Sources: Small Business Survey 2007/08  and  Small Business Survey 2012

 

• Self employment rates tend to be higher for disabled people. In 2012, the self employment rate for disabled people was 14.2% compared to 11.6% for non-disabled people. 

Source: Annual Population Survey (January to December)

 

Useful Links

Disability and Business, Enterprise and Tourism Page

Disability Page

Ethnicity

• In 2012,  3% of small to medium-sized enterprises in Scotland were run by a member or mostly by members of a minority ethnic group.  This figure has remained unchanged from 2007/08.

Sources: Small Business Survey 2007/08  and  Small Business Survey 2012

 

• Self employment rates tend to be higher for minority ethnic groups. In 2012, the self employment rate for ethnic minorities was 14.7% compared to 12.1% for those of white ethnic origin. 

Source: Annual Population Survey (January to December)

 

• In 2001, the proportion of all people in employment who were self-employed was highest for the following ethnic groups: Pakistani (32%), Chinese (23%) and Indian (22%). Bangladeshi and Other South Asian also have high rates of self-employment (20% for both groups). By comparison, self-employment rates were substantially lower for the following groups; White Scottish (10%) and Caribbean (10%) and people in the African group had the lowest rate of self-employment at 8%.

Source: 2001 Census, National Records of Scotland (NRS)

Useful Links

Ethnicity and Business, Enterprise and Tourism Page

Ethnicity Page

Gender

• In 2007/08 and 2012, the majority of small to medium-sized enterprises were owned by men, or led by a management team with a majority of men.  22% and 21% of Scottish small to medium-sized enterprises were women-led (defined as run by a woman or having a management team made up mostly of women) in 2007/08 and 2012 respectively.  In 2012, 43% of small to medium-sized enterprises had at least 50% female leadership.  This figure remains unchanged from 2007/08.

 

SME leadership in Scotland by gender, 2012 and 2007/08
	SBS 2007/08	SBS 2012
Majority-led by women	22%	21%
Equally-led	21%	22%
At least 50 per cent female leadership (majority-led by women & equally led)	43%	43%

 Base (unweighted): 2012 n= 988, 2007/08 n=1,027

Sources: Small Business Survey 2007/08  and  Small Business Survey 2012

 

• The self employment rate is markedly higher for men than for women. In 2012, the self employment rate for men was 16.1% compared to 8.0% for women.

Source: Annual Population Survey (January to December)

 

Useful Links 

Gender and Business, Enterprise and Tourism

Gender Page

Religion

• In 2001, the proportion of all people in employment who were self-employed was highest for the following religious groups: Sikhs (33%), Muslims (29%) and Jewish (27%). By comparison, self-employment rates were substantially lower for the following religious groups: Other Christian (13%), Another Religion (12%) and Roman Catholic which had the lowest self-employment rate at 8%.

Source: 2001 Census, National Records of Scotland (NRS)

 

Useful Links

Religion and Business, Enterprise and Tourism Page

Religion Page

Sexual Orientation

The Scottish Government does not currently have information on the position of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in relation to business, enterprise and tourism.

Transgender

The Scottish Government does not currently have information on the position of transgender people in relation to business, enterprise and tourism.