Encouraging women entrepreneurs to “think bigger” is the aim of a series of free events starting next month around the country.

Enterprise Ireland and Network Ireland will open the Fuelling Ambition roadshows to encourage women entrepreneurs or those considering starting a business "to be braver and more ambitious in their plans for growth and success".

Successful women entrepreneurs and other speakers will be joined by advisers from Enterprise Ireland at each roadshow.

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon said women-led enterprises accounted for just 7 per cent of new start-ups in 2011. She said EI had put a number of initiatives in place to address this.

“These initiatives are working. Participation by female entrepreneurs in our High Potential Start-Up programme increased to 22 per cent in 2015.

“We are determined to capitalise on this positive trend.”

President of Network Ireland Deirdre Waldron said: "The aim of this roadshow is to encourage Irish female entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs to be even more ambitious for their businesses and for themselves as business leaders. We want women to think bigger and braver and not be afraid of reaching their maximum potential on the road to business success."

The roadshows are free of charge and will take place in Dundalk on Tuesday, May 3rd, Galway on Wednesday, May 4th, Athlone on Tuesday, May 17th, Limerick on Wednesday, June 8th and in Cork on Wednesday, July 6th.

Information is available on networkireland.ie and enterprise-ireland.com/ ambitiouswomen