Yesterday I took part in one of the New Era for Females in Enterprise in York and North Yorkshire Focus Groups facilitated by Dr Rebecca Kerr, Policy Research Fellow at the University of York.
There were only a very small number of Female Business Owners, Founders, Entrepreneurs (insert whatever title you choose to give yourself or others) in the session - Me, Sam Beardall ☀️, Halina Jaroszewska, Valentina Hynes and Colette Safhill. Come on ladies we need more of us than this when you consider the amount of female business owners in this part of God's Own County!
The aim of this project, in it's simplest form, is to help shape policy around support for women in business in North Yorkshire and York. It is a collaboration between the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in North Yorkshire, lead by the forward thinking and wonderful Carolyn Frank, and the University of York with a team that includes Kiran Trehan, Sam Gardner, Rebecca and others.
So if you are a women doing business in York and North Yorkshire and want some of the things, and more, that came out in yesterday's session:
❌ Don't want to see the same old, same old when it comes to business support.
✅ Want improved funding streams.
✅ Want to reduce sexism and improve visibility.
✅ Want to ensure equality for all business sizes, sectors and styles.
✅ Want to be respected for your ability, experience and knowledge.
Then let's come together to create the Power of Plenty and get our voices heard.
🕰 If you don't have time - especially at this time of year because quite frankly it's bonkers.
🎸 If you don't want to stick your head above the parapet and challenge the status quo - not the Francis Rossi guitar playing one but the other one.
🙋♀️ If you do want to have an opinion but are happy for someone else to give it - let me know!
Let us ensure we are not working with Tossers when it comes to policy making and we do not feel like people have their fingers in their ears and are not listening.
📸 Danny Thompson Commercial Photography
