GLASGOW – Claire Nelson’s message is simple but bold: if Scotland wants to become a global leader in economic growth and innovation, it must unlock the full potential of its women. And the country, she argues, is still falling short.
From boardrooms to business networks, and startup incubators to sports arenas, Nelson—a mother of four, entrepreneur, and prominent advocate for women in leadership—is calling for coordinated national action to create a business ecosystem where women don’t just survive but thrive.
The Business Case for Inclusion
In her address ahead of the Scottish Growth Summit in Glasgow this month—a business forum “by women, for women”—Nelson pointed to data that supports what many policymakers are beginning to acknowledge: equality isn’t just a social goal, it’s an economic strategy.
A study commissioned by parenting platform Mother Pukka and construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine found that increasing flexible working by just 50% could add £55 billion to the UK economy. In tandem, improving women’s health provision and access to affordable childcare would provide a direct uplift to GDP.
“We need women in business,” Nelson said. “There are untold commercial and economic benefits in creating a progressive, dynamic landscape where women excel.”
In short, Scotland’s prosperity is tethered to the extent to which it leverages the talents of half its population.
Barriers Still Standing
Despite increased participation in the workforce and a growing number of women-led startups, Nelson warns that Scotland’s infrastructure—social, institutional, and economic—remains skewed.
Key obstacles she identifies include:
-
Inaccessible or unaffordable childcare
-
Gender pay and pension gaps
-
Limited access to startup capital for female entrepreneurs
-
Shortages in female mentorship
-
Lack of women in decision-making roles
-
Structural resistance to flexible working policies
“These issues persist,” she said, “not because we lack the data or the solutions, but because the real collective action still hasn’t been taken.”
An Untapped Force in Women’s Sport
Nelson, who has also been instrumental in driving commercial growth in women’s sport, pointed to the sector as a case study of what’s possible when institutions embrace inclusion.
Progressive policy shifts have led to a “tidal wave” of business opportunities in women’s sports, unlocking new markets, audiences, and job creation both on and off the field.
“Scotland can unlock the same benefits elsewhere—if we’re willing to open the doors,” she said.
The Call for Systemic Change
Nelson argues that solving these problems requires a multi-sectoral approach: from government and education to private enterprise and social care.
What’s needed, she says, is not just more women in the workplace—but women in rooms where decisions are made. And not just any women.
“We need more women of colour, women from diverse backgrounds, women who represent the full picture of society,” she said, advocating for a more intersectional approach to leadership.
She believes this kind of inclusion will create a “domino effect,” knocking down interrelated barriers like investment inequality, lack of tax breaks for working mothers, and limited flexible work policies.
Flexibility Isn’t a Perk—It’s a Lever for Growth
Flexible work continues to be a recurring theme in Nelson’s argument. Despite pandemic-era changes to working habits, she says many women—especially mothers—still find the workplace hostile to caregiving responsibilities.
Having launched her own business while raising four children, including a newborn with health issues, Nelson speaks from experience.
“Self-employment wasn’t a dream,” she says. “It was a necessity.”
In her view, Scotland must stop treating flexibility as a lifestyle benefit and start treating it as a fundamental lever of economic development.
Looking Ahead: Will Scotland Act?
Nelson’s vision is clear: a future Scotland where women lead at every level, where flexible working is standard, and where childcare, healthcare, and business support systems are designed for equality—not just equality in theory, but in practice.
She challenges business leaders, policymakers, and executives alike:
“Are you ready to involve, listen to, and take action for women in your business? Are you committed to building a country where opportunity exists across the board?”
The stakes, she suggests, are nothing short of national prosperity.
