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

http://www.bizmove.com Free guides and worksheets

http://www.enterprisenetwork.co.uk The Sunday Times Enterprise Network

http://www.internetangels.co.uk Online business development directory and more

http://www.webcritique.co.uk In-depth site appraisals and personalised web promotion plans and press releases, to save you time and optimise web performance.

http://www.hitsnclicks.com Online marketing resource centre

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.FamiliesOnline.co.uk Families magazine

http://www.thebabyregistry.co.uk

WOMEN'S WEBSITES AND COMMUNITIES http://www.busygirl.com 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.

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