Baroness Randerson calls for more women to enter the business world
Wales Office Minister Baroness Randerson met with businesswomen across Wales to inspire women to venture into business
Wales Office Minister Baroness Randerson met with businesswomen across Wales to inspire women to venture into business and celebrate the contribution they make to the Welsh economy for International Women’s Day
Baroness Randerson met successful women working in a range of industries from catering and crafts to security and science. She used the opportunity to promote business as a career to women, set out how the UK government is supporting women in business and to hear their inspirational stories on how they have achieved success.
Figures show there are now more women in work than ever before in Wales - some 650,000 women are working in Wales - an increase of 17,000 since May 2010.
Baroness Randerson said:
We are helping women at work by reducing the cost of childcare, addressing the gender pay gap, increasing flexible working and introducing shared parental leave.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Make it Happen’ – and I have been fortunate enough to meet some amazing women in Wales who have done just that – made it happen.
These women are an asset to Wales and a glowing example of what can be achieved with hard work and perseverance.
But we all have a responsibility – to support, encourage and educate women to help them not only strive for their dreams, but to achieve them. This is what International Women’s day is all about.
On 6 March, Baroness Randerson visited The Green Coffee Lounge and Restaurant in Caerleon run by self taught chef Emma Evans. Emma also founded The Secret Supperclwb – a pop-up dining events business – and the Welsh Mums in Business network to support women with children to venture into business.
The Minister met Lisa Standley - a fellow member of the Welsh Mums in Business network and founder of Cottage Coppicing in Caerleon which makes rural woodland craft products from sustainable local woodland using traditional tools and methods.
Baroness Randerson stopped-by IDS Security Systems Ltd – a leading specialist in the design, installation and maintenance of security and fire protection systems – to meet managing director Julie Halton and operations director Jennifer Horan.
She also met Abi Carter, founder of Forensic Resources Ltd – a forensic science consultancy firm that offers expert witness services to legal teams and insurance firms across the UK.
On 9 March, Baroness Randerson will highlight women’s business achievements across Wales during a Women in Business Event at the Tomos Watkins Brewing Company.
Speakers include Connie Parrie, CEO of Hurns Brewery and former winner of Welsh Woman of the Year, and Rachel Fleri – founder and managing director of Specialist Security who will share their experiences of setting up and running a business in a male dominated industry.