Working mothers work longer hours Approximately 47% of the UK workforce is now made up of women, with 12 million employed, according to the Labour Force Survey from the Office of National Statistics. And the employment figure is rising by approximately 20,000 every two months. 41% of these women are working mothers with dependant children (4.9 million), and it is these women that increasingly
have to juggle work and home, career and family.

According to a recent government-backed research programme into the future of work, working mums work longer hours than they did ten years ago; on average an additional 2.5 hours a week are spent working compared to the early 1990s. These findings have caused Shirley Conran, author of Superwoman, to advise women to go on a baby strike and stop having children for ten years because there’s not enough support for mothers.

Fortunately, women needn’t take such evasive action as there are plenty of resources on the Net that can help working mothers and female entrepreneurs to maximise their time, find the perfect childcare solution, get help from virtual assistants and business/web advice.

Here are a pick of some of the best resources online for working women today.

TIME MANAGEMENT / WORK-LIFE BALANCE http://www.worklifebalance.com The leader in work-life balance training. http://www.winninginfo.com This site sells the ‘Juggling Woman’ series of booklets: ‘107 winning ideas on returning to work and ‘99 helpful hints in understanding teenagers’.
http://coco.essortment.com/howtomanageyo_rfwe.htm How to manage your time effectively article http://www.womenslife.co.za/Default.asp?action=article&ContentID=226
How to manage your time effectively article www.personaltransformation.org/timemgmt.htm Time management tips and time log http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lac/guest/time.html Time management tips http://www.allexperts.com An About.com service that enables you to get help from
specific experts. Jackie Hale is the Time Management expert.
http://www.mindtools.com/page5.html How to get the most from your time http://www.balancetime.com Time management seminars http://www.employersforwork-lifebalance.org.uk Demonstrates how work-life policies can be introduced on
a practical basis. http://www.healthworks.com.au/publications/booklets/b-worklife.htm
Work-life balance booklet from Healthworks. http://www.ivillage.co.uk/workcareer/worklife/ Has some useful articles on juggling work and life. http://www.equalsone.co.uk Flexible recruitment consultants who support work-life
balance
http://www.dti.gov.uk/work-lifebalance/ Free book provided by DTI. http://www.execwoman.com/workingmother/workingmother.htm
Articles on work-life balance and resources for mums.

OUTSOURCING AND VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS http://www.smarterwork.co.uk Business services outsourcing marketplace http://www.elance.com Professional services marketplace http://www.talentcue.com Freelance database http://www.virtuallytheoffice.com Provides administration and support services to businesses
and individuals.
http://www.ivaa.org International Virtual Assistants Association http://www.v-sec.co.uk V-sec secretarial services http://www.vauk.co.uk Virtual assistance UK http://www.virtual-employee.co.uk/ The Virtual Assistant http://www.staffcentrix.com Virtual Assistant Community http://www.assistu.com Virtual Assistant/Office Professionals http://www.virtual-asst.com Virtual Assistants http://www.virtualassitant.com.au Australian Virtual Assistants http://www.getvirtualassistant.com Virtual Assistance http://execassist.net Executive virtual assistance. http://www.cushiontheimpact.co.uk/ Help available to cushion the impact

BUSINESS AND INTERNET RELATED ADVICE http://www.beyondbricks.co.uk New government initiative with useful information relating to business and e-commerce http://www.better-business.co.uk Better Business magazine online http://www.smallbusinessadvice.org.uk Does exactly what it says on the tin :) http://www.businessbureau-uk.co.uk Includes internet statistics, outsourcing and more http://www.smallbusinessbureau.org.uk Lobbying body for SMEs http://www.factline.co.uk/ Factsheets for SMEs, including tax self assessment and
other information. http://www.open.gov.uk/inrev/sa/ Inland Revenue Self Assessment

CHILDCARE
http://www.family-match.com Helps nannies find jobs (with tips and advice for nannies) and helps mothers to find the perfect match with regards to nannies and mothers helps’ http://www.sitters.co.uk Babysitting booking service. http://www.nannyjob.co.uk Resource centre and nanny directory http://www.parentsoup.com Resource centre for parents http://www.ukparents.co.uk Resource centre for parents http://www.practicalparent.org.uk Resource centre for parents http://www.ivillage.com Resource centre for women http://www.thebabyregistry.co.uk

WOMEN'S WEBSITES AND COMMUNITIES http://www.busygirl.co.uk Business technology network for women http://www.e-womenforum.com For women working in new media, IT and e-commerce http://www.seedfusion.com E-busines network for women http://www.ebiznetwork.co.uk Good advice for women starting businesses from home http://www.the-bag-lady.co.uk/ Global directory for women in business http://www.execwoman.com Executive woman magazine online http://www.workingwomanmag.com Working woman magazine online http://www.diamond.uk.com Goods and services from insurance to heath, aimed at women and by women. http://www.femail.com Daily Mail Femail Section online http://www.allabouteve.co.uk BBC online magazine for women. http://www.advancingwomen.com Women related news regarding workplace strategies, career advancement, management, and more. http://www.aawit.org African-American Women in Technology http://www.binarygirl.com Where girls and technology click http://www.digital-women.com Women in business with their modems running http://dotcomdivas.net Resources for women Internet entrepreneurs http://www.girlgeeks.com The source for women in computing http://www.nfwbo.org National Foundation for Women Business Owners http://www.onlinewbc.org/entry.html Online women’s business centre http://www.scottishbusinesswomen.com http://www.siliconsally.com Resource for women – all things computer related http://www.womanowned.com Women business owners and resource centre http://www.womensbizresources.com Resources for women in business http://www.workingmommall.com Community for working mums

QUICK CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ONLINE Women make up 50% of all Internet users and control or influence over 80% of all purchase decisions, women make up 63% of online shoppers who buy more than once a week. Here are some websites that will help you save time shopping online this Christmas. http://www.kelkoo.com Price comparison shopping http://www.shoptour.co.uk UK online shopping guide http://www.shopq.co.uk Online shopping guide http://www.boysstuff.co.uk The one stop shop for big boys toys http://www.firebox.com Gadgets, games, boys toys http://www.ilikemusic.com/buymusic.html http://www.ilikemusic.com/makemusic_hardwareheaven.html
http://www.ilikemusic.com/musicdirectory_giftsforboysngirls.html
Buy CDs, videos, hardware, software, instruments and equipment and check out the boystoys directory. http://www.bust-ed.com Gifts and products designed by women for women http://www.giftsforbirds.com Point clueless boyfriends/husbands towards this site
http://www.woolworths.co.uk Woolies online
http://www.asseenonscreen.com Teenage daughters will love this one.

Cheryl Rickman
http://www.webcritique.co.uk e-mail: info@webcritique.co.uk In-depth Website Appraisals, Personalised Web Promotion Plans, plus Web Page Copywriting and Editing Services and Press Release packages.