For Global Entrepreneurship Week event we
hosted a
powerful event on Women’s
Entrepreneurship Day. Pink Shoe Hullabaloo!
The round table
explored how the UK’s entrepreneurs #MakeItHappen, and looked into the reasons behind
the success of the UK’s entrepreneurs, and how they can be used to inspire the
country’s future businessmen and women.
Joining the many successful entrepreneurs and leaders of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were Alan Mak MP, Chair of the All-Party
Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Entrepreneurship, and Craig Tracey MP, Chair of
the APPG for Women and Enterprise. The MPs outlined their goals in relation to
their APPGs, and underlined their commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs
and to inspiring and encouraging more women and young people to start their own
businesses.
Helene Martin Gee welcomed our host Baroness Uddin then introduced Sue Lawton
MBE who chaired the proceedings with her usual finesse. Firstly, the founders
of Clever Tykes, Jodie and Ben Cook outlined the catalyst for their brilliant
series of books aimed at providing young children with positive role models
from the world of business.
Alex Mitchell of Young Brits then spoke of the importance of growing young
businesses, followed by a passionate Jacqueline Winstanley on encouraging
Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Finally, Ishreen Bradley outlined her top tips on
growing a successful business.
As the round table discussion continued, it was clear that
the speakers had come with great passion, and many important issues were
raised. Points debated included the recently-discovered fact that new
entrepreneurs are more likely to have had an entrepreneurial parent than not, and
that the 1.5 million female entrepreneurs constitute one-third of the
self-employed workforce. With a fantastic 200 million women starting up businesses
worldwide, how can we look to improve that number; is it due to the inherent
risk that people associate with start-ups, or it is related to the career paths
and options that are presented to young women at school and university?
To provide some insight into the
school question, we were joined by students and teachers from Woodside High School who spoke about their interest in a future
as entrepreneurs. With the subject of entrepreneurship making it to the
leaders’ communiqué at the most recent G20 conference for the first time, it is
clear that much has been achieved in advancing the subject in the political
agenda. As women have started eighty per cent of the UK’s post-recession new
businesses, it is only right that we can now start to look at this success and
discuss how to take it to the next generation.
After the roundtable we enjoyed drinks and networking and gave a toast to
Lorely, the newly enobled Baroness Burt of Solihull.
