Gender export gap in Scotland: research

Appendix 3: Email to all participants

Please note each email to participants (women entrepreneurs and ESOs) was slightly changed to reflect their business/organisation.

Dear XXX

I hope you are well. Please let me introduce myself, I am Professor Norin Arshed based at the University of Strathclyde’s Business School. Alongside my colleagues, Drs Stephen Knox (University of Stirling) and Carolina Marin Cadavid (University of Strathclyde), I am undertaking a project with the Scottish Government (Directorate for International Trade and Investment) on Gender Export Gap. The desired outcome of this project is to provide evidence on:

1. the economic case for addressing a known gender export gap in Scotland. This economic case could draw on indicators such as increase in GDP, job creation, export increases and other economic indicators and;

2. the most effective avenues to address this gender export gap.

Hence, I am getting in touch with yourself regarding your business/organisation (XXX) and would like to invite you to discuss your views on exporting [to understand the support that your organisation provides for women exporting or looking to export/internationalise]. The Scottish Government would like to understand how we can advise women entrepreneurs who are interested in in delivering effective support and informing policy in Scotland.

I would be grateful if you could spare an hour to have a chat (online), if you are interested in being involved, please let me know.

The discussion will be confidential and anonymous.

If you require further information, please do let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Norin

Norin Arshed PhD

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Director of Research

Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strathclyde Business School

University of Strathclyde

Glasgow

G4 0GE

e: n.arshed@strath.ac.uk