The Sunday Times Magazine – 7 May 2017

Rich List 2017

STAKES

That does not mean there is not more work to be

done. “There is still a shortage of female role

models,” Jones says. “When you ask young people

to name inspiring entrepreneurs, they typically

name Branson , Sugar or Dyson. The only female

name that pops up is Anita Roddick, and she died

almost 10 years ago.

“So I’m appealing to Chrissie Rucker, Dame

Natalie and all those other stellar women on today’s

Rich List to get out there and tell their stories.

They’ve done it. We now need them to help inspire

the next generation of women entrepreneurs to

follow in their footsteps.” n

Jones says the business environment today is

far more supportive of female entrepreneurs

than a few decades ago. “We see women with

successful corporate careers return to work after

having children. They come to recognise that

self-employment can give greater fl exibility for them

and their family,” she says. “The internet and social

media have also given women greater freedom to run

those businesses from home .”

11

Ruth Parasol

PartyGaming

£720m (59)

12

Lady de Rothschild

Finance

£675m (60)

13

Joanne Rowling

Harry Potter

£650m (62)

14

Baljinder Boparan

2 Sisters Food Group

£544m (65)

15

Fawn and India

Rose James

Soho property

£530m (102)

16

Jacqueline Gold

Ann Summers

£460m (79)

17

Cristina Stenbeck

Media

£457m (79)

18=

Kit Kemp

Boutique hotels

£450m (88)

18=

Meeta Patel

Pharmaceuticals

£450m (80)

20

Shirley Hill

Metro Bank

£436m (80)

The Sunday Times Magazine • 53

ILLUSTRATION BY ELEANOR SHAKESPEARE

POWER SUITS Women holding all the cards include

( from top) Natalie Massenet, Denise Coates,

Jacqueline Gold and Margaret Barbour