A survey by parenting support group Netmums reveals that 88 per cent of mothers working full-time would rather go part-time or stay at home with their children.

The survey highlights what Netmums calls “a frightening lack of choice” facing mothers; with “restricted employment options” due to barriers of finance, childcare and a lack of suitable part-time work.

Netmums was invited to respond to consultation document Work & Families – Choice & Flexibility, The Minister For Women and Equality, launched as part of the Government’s review of employment and maternity rights.

With many members “regularly expressing concerns about the employment choices available to them”, the organisation surveyed 4,000 mothers, 72 per cent with children under three.

Called The Great Work Debate, the survey concludes that “choice has been virtually eradicated” for mothers when it comes to deciding whether to return to work or stay home.

“A large number of women would rather stay at home to look after their children, but are not able to do as there’s insufficient support available. The most popular work pattern was part-time work, yet there are substantive concerns about the quality and availability of part-time jobs,” says a statement at Netmums.com.

“Action is needed on the part of Government and employers to reform the workplace if true choice and flexibility are to be achieved.”

If companies were more family-friendly – flexible with jobs and hours – 63 per cent said it would make a “huge difference to both family life and society”.

Forty-seven per cent felt too many mothers work because they have to, and 43 per cent felt there weren’t enough flexible jobs that fit with family life.

“The holy grail of choice remains far beyond the reach of most mums in this country,” says Netmums. Netmums says barriers include finances – “tax credit, along with child benefit, have helped to ease financial difficulties, but don't make enough impression to allow people to stay at home” and childcare costs – “even with tax credits and childcare voucher schemes, many find it’s not worth their while working”.

Emma Hague is an accountant, business coach, entrepreneur and mother-of-two. She says that, with changes to child benefit and working tax credits, a review of maternity leave and rising costs of childcare, self-employment is fast becoming “the only workable solution” for many mums who don’t want to, or can’t afford to, work full-time.

In February and March, Emma is giving free talks encouraging mums to start up in business. She’s also running practical inspirational workshops at Chevin Country Park Hotel in Otley this spring, followed by a six-month coaching programme.

“A questionnaire for mums whose dreams are in the kitchen cupboard, behind the baby wipes,” says a leaflet for Emma’s talks at Kids Clubhouse in Horsforth. “Tick those that apply – I’m in a job I’d rather not be doing because I have no choice; There are things I want to do and I’ll get to do them in my mid-70s when the kids have grown up; I can no longer open my bedside drawer because it’s full of craft projects I half-started and never finished; the last day I spent on myself was in the midNineties; I barely have time to feed myself, let along my soul”.

Says Emma: “A lot of mums have no idea what business they’d set up, or how to go about it.”

Despite programmes like Dragon’s Den, many mums at home with children don’t see themselves as entrepreneurs. They don’t believe they have what it takes so settle for a job they’d rather not be in, often just to pay for someone else to look after their children.

“But with the right mindset, ideas and support, they can set up in business and find a better work/life balance. There are things you can do from home that don’t require a lot of money. You don’t need to fork out hundreds setting up a website.”

Emma’s approach is based on American workshops focusing on the dreams mothers had at school.

“We look at what they used to do before they had a family, what interests them. Having done some work with National Childbirth Trust groups, I found a lot of mums thought they hadn’t got time to run a business – but I’ve got two young children and I did it. It’s about managing time.”

For more about Emma Hague’s talks, call 0800 1455750, e-mail info@maternitymoneymaker.com, or visit maternitymoneymaker.com or mumshavedreamstoo.co.uk.