Women march on the capital to support small businesses

Networking organisation Forward Ladies has organised the reception with MPs at the Palace of Westminster in London following a consultation event in which members called on the government for more help for small businesses, and better support from the banks.

The women will hear from speakers Margaret Wood MBE, managing director of Wakefield engineering company ICW (UK), Karen Boswell, managing director of East Coast, and Etta Cohen, founder of Forward Ladies.

They will also hear from Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities, and take part in discussions on the challenges facing professional women, at the reception.

The event is supported by Liverpool MP Esther McVey, who previously ran Winning Women – a networking organisation in her home city – before being elected to Parliament.

Forward Ladies’ members were encouraged to invite their own constituency MPs along to join discussions on equality and diversity, and support for women in business.

Yorkshire MPs who accepted the invitation include Rachel Reeves of Leeds West, Mary Creagh of Wakefield, Meg Munn of Sheffield Heeley, David Ward of Bradford East, Craig Whittaker of Calder Valley and Rosie Winterton of Doncaster Central.

Mrs Cohen said: “We listened to what our members told us about how they thought government can better support business, and we have created the opportunity for them to meet and engage with ministers and decision makers to discuss key issues and to influence policy which will accelerate economic growth.”

Meanwhile, last week, Forward Ladies announced the shortlist for this year’s Women in Business Awards

Now in their second year, the awards celebrate the region’s brightest female entrepreneurs.

There are 25 business leaders shortlisted in nine categories.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the New Century Pavilion at Elland Road in Leeds on Friday, October 14, where one entrepreneur will also win the overall 2011 Forward Ladies Businesswoman of the Year title.

Sarah Dunwell, chief executive of Leeds-based social enterprise catering company Create, who won the Not For Profit Business Woman category at the inaugural event last year, took the overall title in 2010.

The Yorkshire Post is sponsoring the Start-Up Business Woman category for the second year.