Created by Pink Shoe and generously supported by
NatWest, the UK Economic Blueprint for Women Roadshow held its first event at
the Welsh National Assembly. Hosted by Joyce Watson AM , Assembly Member for Mid & West Wales.
A stellar line-up of female entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Wales gathered to discuss key questions on how to encourage and support more women to scale-up their business.
Pink Shoe founder Helene Martin Gee welcomed delegates and introduced Kevin Morgan of NatWest Cymru, who spoke about the many opportunities for women in business and the wide variety of successful female-led businesses the bank works with.
Helene then gave a brief resumé of Pink Shoe, how and
why she set up the network 11 years ago, how it has grown and the exciting range
of activities it provides.
Then Jill Pay, chairman of the Pink Shoe Senate outlined
the vital work of the UK Economic Blueprint, the key working areas of access to
finance, markets, data and training.
Jill explained that UK EB is collaborating with many different partners, such as work on a data repository in partnership with two universities.
Jill explained that UK EB is collaborating with many different partners, such as work on a data repository in partnership with two universities.
Delegates were divided into 7 different groups,
each chaired by a leading businesswoman and with a different question to discuss with the aim of
agreeing a key idea to take forward.
Once ideas were agreed and shared there was useful feedback from delegates and a panel including Cheryl Gourlay, Susan
Greenwood, Jill Pay and Helene Martin Gee.
With special thanks to Rosie Williamson who was a super star
organiser and to Christine Atkinson,
Liz Maher, Alys Carlton, Lee Sharma, Charley Hagger, Catrin Pascoe, Katy Chamberlain
and Helen Walby.
Outcomes from the discussions will contribute to a White Paper to be published in 2019.