Women-led high-growth enterprise taskforce meeting minutes: 29 November 2023
Updated 1 February 2024
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Attendees
Taskforce members
- Anne Boden MBE (chair), Starling Bank
- Judith Hartley
- Zandra Moore, Panintelligence
- Deepali Nangia, Speedinvest
- Jan Putnis, Slaughter and May
- Angela Scott
- Helen Steers, Pantheon
Secretariat, analysts and other support staff
- Alexandra Freen, Starling Bank
- Teena Lyons, Starling Bank
- Gillian Unsworth, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office
- Sue Beaumont-Staite, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office (Secretariat)
- Barbara Collins, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office (Secretariat)
- Paul Williamson, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office
- Kevin Mantle, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office (Secretariat)
- Mayeesha Jamil, Cabinet Office
- Libby Daniels, Cabinet Office
- Megan Kane, Cabinet Office
- Leah Shearer, Private Secretary, Minister for Women
- Francis Evans, Department for Business and Trade
- Elisabeth Brind, Anne Boden’s office
- Sarah Ludlow, Portland
- Theodora Newman, British Business Bank
Apologies
Taskforce members
- June Angelides MBE, Samos
- Sam Smith FfinnCap Group
- Check Warner, Ada Ventures
Summary of actions
1) Jan Putnis to draft taskforce response to FCA consultation.
2) Libby Daniels to develop media lines and update event brief and send round to Anne Boden for clearance and comments.
3) All members to flag to the Secretariat any key data points/headlines from report that they feel should be highlighted in any media plans.
4) Zandra Moore to send briefing pack for Climb23 event to Secretariat and Libby Daniels.
5) Gillian Unsworth to circulate note outlining proposals for the event to Anne Boden, Zandra Moore and Helen Steers
Discussion items
1. Welcome from chair, minutes and actions
No comments on previous minutes. Majority of actions completed from last month.
2. Current state of play with report (chair)
Alex Depledge and Emma Sincliar have stepped down from the taskforce. The taskforce thanked them for their work.
Following a meeting with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the taskforce’s response to their consultation on diversity and inclusion will be revised and a summary included in the report.
Action: Jan Putnis to provide draft FCA response
The definition of a women-led high-growth enterprise and data collection by Companies House was discussed. Gillian Unsworth advised that Companies House had recently carried changes to data collection and these had required changes to legislation.
The inclusion of targets was discussed. It was recognised that organisations such as Level 20 and Diversity VC had already made proposals for the number of women in financial organisations, so a target of 20% is already being discussed.
Helen Steers stated that BVCA would need sign off from their board for any proposals in the report
Gillian Unsworth updated the taskforce on timing. A finalised version of the report will need to be sent to Ministers. Any references to other government departments will also need to be cleared.
3. Launch event
Anne Boden highlighted that Thursday 7 March 2024 was currently being considered for the launch date for the report but final agreement was still needed. Libby Daniels outlined the planned event and media strategy – London evening venue supported by press release and social media, including video messaging. Slaughter and May have kindly agreed to organise the event. Options for timings and other issues to be discussed further.
Action: Libby Daniels to put together media lines.
The launch will include a panel discussion. there was a need to identify panellists and it was agreed that taskforce members themselves would be best placed to be on the panel. Anne Boden to be panel chair.
It was agreed that Zandra Moore’s ‘Climb23’ event was a good exemplar.
Action: Zandra Moore to send briefing pack for Climb23 event to Secretariat and Libby Daniels.
Press release will need to have clear data to show gaps and opportunities. A separate data pack will be produced by analysts to support the report. Members were asked to identify any key data points from the report that they felt would work as key data highlights for media.
Action: Members to flag to the Secretariat any key data points and headlines from report that they feel should be highlighted in any media plans.
Libby Daniels discussed the development of the attendee list. A stock-take will occur in February.
Date of launch will need to be agreed by No.10.
Gillian Unsworth suggested a side event on women-led high-growth enterprise as part of the 2024 session on the Commission on the Status of Women. She asked if members had any contacts internationally on this agenda that they might be able to call on for support if needed to discuss business-led solutions.
Action: Gillian Unsworth to circulate note outlining proposals for the event to Anne Boden, Zandra Moore and Helen Steers.
4. Any other business
Francis Evans gave an update on the ‘Rose Review’
Next meeting: 22 January 2024.