10 July 2007
Female Entrepreneurs – Your Region Needs You!
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) encouraged over
70 business women to officially sign up as Women’s Enterprise
Ambassadors yesterday (Monday 9th July), to represent the Northwest
in the drive to build a national network of women
entrepreneurs.
The event, hosted by the NWDA, follows the call to action by the
former Industry and Regions Minister Margaret Hodge, who announced
in February that one thousand female entrepreneurs will be
recruited across the UK to help and inspire more women to set up
their own business.
The UK’s Regional Development Agencies have been assigned the
task of recruiting this network of businesswomen. Ambassadors will
become a member of a new national network helping women across the
country and working with the new Task Force for Women’s
Enterprise.
(L to R) - Sylvia Philips from Bolton Business Ventures and the
Chair of the Regional Enterprise Forum; Valerie Dwyer of the
National Women's Enterprise Task Force; Peter Watson, Managing
Director of Northwest Business Link; Yvonne Sampson, Strategy
Manager at the NWDA; Lucy Meacock from ITV Granada; Sarah Bevan
Fischer, Director of Enterprise Insight in Liverpool and Vanda
Murray, NWDA Board Member.
The Women’s Ambassador Campaign aims to promote a culture of
women’s enterprise, by starting a business, social enterprise, or
by making an innovative idea happen at work.
It is an inspirational and ambitious campaign already backed by
a coalition of business, female entrepreneurs, charities, education
bodies and government. It is thought to be unique in being women
focused, business-led and government-backed. It is also believed
that up to 1000 women entrepreneurs have already expressed interest
in the network across the UK, achieving initial targets within two
months.
Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said:
“Women are drastically under-represented in the business world,
both in terms of occupying top jobs and when it comes to owning and
operating their own businesses. We are hoping that with a little
support and encouragement we can really get women thinking about
enterprise and address the business gender imbalance”
The Women’s Ambassador programme is borne out of the national
scheme Girls! Make Your Mark, a national campaign which aims to
inspire young women and girls to make their ideas happen, aiming to
close the existing enterprise gender gap. The campaign is brought
to life through the inspiring stories of women who are already
making their ideas a reality, and realistic role models who
demonstrate that dreams, ideas and goals can be
fulfilled.
The benefits of becoming an Ambassador include:
• An opportunity to be part of the Women’s Ambassadors
network of inspirational women.
• Promotional opportunities for you and your business through
the national Enterprise Insight press office, newsletter and
campaign websites.
• Speaking opportunities at schools, colleges, universities or
at networks, conferences and events.
• Other personal development opportunities including offers of
training, information on relevant awards and invites to networks
and events offering opportunities to meet well-known business
people, media and celebrities.
• The opportunity to shape policy at a local, regional and
potentially national level.
• Receive regular e-newsletter updates on enterprise and the
women’s enterprise agenda keeping you in touch with everything
that’s going on.
The Agency is recruiting women in the region that will commit to
promote the campaign and to connect with at least 50 women a year.
Women wishing to register interest in the Women’s Ambassador
programme should contact the Agency’s Business Enquiry Team on
01925 400495.
-Ends-
For further information please contact John Greenway, Press
Officer on 01925 400552 or mobile 07706 794 141 or john.greenway@nwda.co.uk