Launch of the Vote 100 Project

Helene Martin Gee and Jill Pay represented Pink Shoe at the official celebrations to launch Parliament’s Vote 100 project in Westminster Hall. 

The event was hosted by The Prime Minister (and Pink Shoe Patron!) Theresa May along with Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker.

We were entertained by two excellent choirs then heard from Jordhi Nullatamby MYP who was awe inspiring with her confident and engaging words – a future leader for sure. 

Theresa May also inspired as she paid tribute to the women before us and the vital role we play today; followed by John Bercow MP then Lord Fowler who each honoured the importance of the occasion.



Many guests paid homage by wearing Suffragette colours and it was wonderful to see so many female Parliamentarians, past and present. 

Congratulatations to Melanie Unwin, Mari Takayanagi and colleagues who created the extraordinary Vote 100 project. 















Vote 100 events are taking place across the country and Pink Shoe will be involved with two EqualiTeas we're holding in June and July.

Vote 100 Aperitivo

At such an historic time with the centenary of the first women getting the vote we held  an extra special Aperitivo with our Ambassadors and guests. 

Aperitivo events are deliberately intimate as members thoroughly enjoy being able to spend a bit more time connecting with each other and sharing ideas. 

This time it was essential as we visited the broom cupboard in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the House of Commons to see the space that Emily Wilding Davison occupied on Census night 1911.

A small and unprepossessing place, it really is a cupboard! A plaque now commemorates the spot and was put up ‘illegally’ by Tony Benn MP. Emily’s census form gives her postal address as 'Found hiding in crypt of Westminster Hall' with the date of 3/4/1911. We must revisit on the anniversary itself.

Some if us were also able to view the Acts themselves which were on display from the Act Room just for one day.

Economic Blueprint Board Meeting

Team EB met at Westminster to discuss progress and agree priority actions for the first half of 2018. With so much activity in all areas it was an exciting meeting.

Chaired by Jill Pay, key discussion points included a presentation from Jacqueline Winstanley on the Inclusivity Framework she has gifted to EB and which will apply across the entire Blueprint. The stages required to implement the framework were clarified with the board who will take it back to their respective groups. 

Sandy Meadows, Diana Chrouch, Almira Ross and Lola Owolabi reported that progress on the Know & Grow software has been dramatic with a pilot underway in partnership with Middlesex University. It was agreed to plan a soft launch for mid-2018.

Action points were captured by Lynn Turner and full outcomes and updates across the seven workstreams will be shared via a newsletter to be circulated at the end of Q1.

BoardAble Public Appointments Seminar

With its BoardAble programme and seminars Pink Shoe does its bit to encourage more women and under-represented groups to consider a Ministerial Public Appointment. 

The latest Seminar was well attended and a great session led by Helene Martin Gee and Vanda Green.

First, Katharine Purser Head of the Centre for Public Appointments at the Cabinet Office outlined the wide range of appointments available and shared with delegates the application process from start to finish and how the final decision is made by the Minsiter from a shortlist of ‘appointable candidates’. 

Katharine also encouraged delegates to sign up for the regular Public Appointments Newsletter which outlines latest roles.

We then heard from BoardAble Patron Sarah Anderson CBE, who has wide experience of chairing Appointments Panels. Sarah advised us of the vital importance of the supporting statement and summarised the points to cover. 

Giving an insight into the difference between the private and public sectors, Sarah advised delegates to persevere with applications; perhaps to start with roles such as School Governor and to think about the NHS who have a range of regional posts.

After Q&A Vanda Green led an interactive session with delegates who then enjoyed refreshments and networking to round off the event.

The next step is the full BoardAble programme which begins in March. Delegates were welcomed to apply for the course, which mirrors the application process of a Public Appointment. The programme is aimed at senior women and diverse candidates. It includes professional seminars and a unique one-to-one shadowing experience with a public appointee.