Valerie invited to Women in Business Reception, Admiralty House, London, 12th May 2008
Valerie was delighted to be invited by the Rt Hon. Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for Women, to attend an invitation-only Women in Business reception at Admiralty House, London on 12th May 2008.
The venue was a sumptuous gem, hidden away on one of the busiest streets in London but an oasis of calm – until all the guests arrived that is – when the room was packed with high flying women entrepreneurs from across the UK and absolutely buzzed with excited conversation! There was networking on a grand scale!
Valerie had the opportunity to speak about issues for women’s enterprise and her leadership and championing work on this agenda with both Rt Hon. Harriet Harman MP and the Rt Hon. John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) as well as Tracey Vegro, DBERR and Bill Hallahan DBERR – both colleagues of hers from the UK Women’s Enterprise Task Force and time for a quick’ hello’ with Pam Alexander – taskforce co-Chair.
Working around the room she had time to speak with Sue Prince – a Board Member, from Advantage West Midlands (Regional Development Agency). Sue is an unusual combination of keen environmentalist, organic farmer and established artist. Raj Patel MBE., Director of Policy, Enterprise Insight & Make Your Mark – is involved with the dynamic campaigns to get young people into enterprise. Enterprise Insight co-ordinate the annual Enterprise Week, each November. They also co-ordinate the UK Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors. Each region has around 100 ambassadors who promote enterprise as an opportunity for other women and encourage them to consider ‘having a go’ themselves.
Maureen Bailey, Government Women’s Issues Network Co-ordinator, based in the government’s Ministry of Justice, explained about the work they are doing within the network that includes events and networking. Maureen also told Valerie about special schemes and important work that she has been involved in relating to supporting women who have suffered domestic violence and abuse.
Key message from this event? At last it seems that those in power have finally recognised the valuable contribution but also the significant potential for the economy when it is female friendly to and supports women’s enterprise in all its forms. Harriet Harman and John Hutton both emphasised how important the Women’s Enterprise Agenda is, not only to them personally but also pan-Government and the entire UK economy.
Speaking with both Harriet and John separately, Valerie mentioned some of the pioneering work by emda and our aspirational vision for women’s enterprise that we are determined to achieve. Valerie explained several aspects of our drive and progress, including the integration of the women’s enterprise agenda into the mainstream, our chosen route for the Women’s Business Centres (virtual, fully integrated into Business Links and Business Support). She touched briefly upon the Women’s Enterprise Task Force and the co-operation between the taskforce and the RDA’s, all of whom had been extremely influential strategically, behind the scenes, resulting in the excellent announcements and measures for Women’s Enterprise in the new Enterprise Strategy and budget. All! we need to do now is turn these into reality!
Asked by John Hutton whether all RDA’s are as strong in supporting Women’s Enterprise, Valerie replied that the family of RDA’s and RDA Women’s Enterprise Co-ordinators network were working to share information and good practise and keep open two way communications with the Women’s Enterprise Task Force but that the role of Champions for Women’s Enterprise in RDA’s was vital at Board level but also throughout those agencies and much wider afield.
Predictions, from research and statistics, are that one in five women will live in poverty –unless work is done now to raise awareness and take action on ways to address the issue. This affects women nearer to retirement but also needs to be on the agenda for women starting up enterprises – to ensure that business advisers at the very least raise awareness of the need for business exit strategies and personal pensions planning and investment when discussing start up and growth business/ financial plans.