8:57am Wednesday 11th November 2009
By Chris Holland
Next week will see the launch of a new initiative to encourage women entrepreneurs.
It comes as research shows that the Yorkshire region has 16 per cent fewer women company directors than the rest of the UK.
The new initiative by Bradford Chamber of Commerce is designed to be a networking group – and more.
For the past 12 years, the Chamber itself has been run by female chief executive Sandy Needham, who said the intention was to provide both a forum and practical support, mainly for women who are starting or running smaller businesses.
The launch follows a lunch attended by around 80 women who heard Claire Young, the Yorkshire-born entrepreneur who turned down the offer of a job from Apprentice host Sir Alan Sugar to launch her own events business.
Sandy said the success of the event reflected the level of interest among business women in tips and advice on how to further their careers.
The launch of the Network For Enterprising Women has been timed to coincide with Global Enterprise Week next week. Sandy said: “We are launching this new initiative to provide support, advice and a forum through which women can make new contacts, share experiences and, perhaps, gain mutual confidence from each other.
“But the aim is not to be just another networking group. As yet, the exact scope and functions of the body are largely undefined as we want to ensure it provides women entrepreneurs with what they want, and they will help define its exact role.
“One key area is the role of women as leaders and how the gender issue may affect that. It should also be able to help with boosting self-confidence, presentation skills and offering a supportive environment for female entrepreneurs, who can sometimes feel isolated.”
In spite of a continued need for support and statistics showing that successful women remain a rarer breed, Sandy believes things are better now for women making their way up a career ladder or in business.
She said: “Apart from equality legislation and so on, there has been a shift in attitudes, with less ‘old school tie’ prejudice against women in the traditionally male-dominated business arena.”
Sandy Needham is also part of a another new body launched in the summer to provide a platform for senior women executives and entrepreneurs.
The Two Per Cent Club, which is backed by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, was the brainchild of West Yorkshire marketing entrepreneur Heather Jackson.
Heather said: “I established the Two Per Cent Club with the objectives of improving business competitiveness by changing the proportion of women operating at the highest level in business without resorting to legislation.
“The specific issue that the club is focusing on this year is the fact that Yorkshire currently has 16 per cent fewer women on its boards than any other area in the UK. Coupled with the fact that it has been proven that companies perform better if they have women in executive committee and board positions, this is something that we believe to be a serious business issue for the county, its businesses and its economy.”
The club involves around 60 top women from around the region and is chaired by former Bradford businesswoman Linda Pollard, deputy chairman of Yorkshire Forward.
She earned her spurs in the family motor business and also worked in London for a leading marketing agency before coming back to Bradford where she launched two successful businesses in fashion retailing and later a marketing agency, whose blue-chip clients included the sports brand Puma.
She said: “I’m fortunate to be able to see opportunities and give the door a push. With hard work and determination, that offers the chance to succeed.
“Some people need help and support to grasp their chances, sometimes at a ‘nitty-gritty’ level with such matters as drawing up business plans, raising capital or marketing.
“But, even today, there’s still much to do to bolster the role of women at the highest level, and this is where the Two Per Cent Club can play an important role.
“It is important for our regional economy and for cities such as Bradford that we see more women on the boards of both public and private sector organisations. Women can bring a ‘can do’ attitude and also a different perspective when it comes to handling businesses issues.
“They have much more to offer than being confined to traditional finance, administrative or personnel roles.”
Also involved in the Two Per Cent Club is Alison Bainbridge, finance director of both Bradford-based Yorkshire Water and its parent group Kelda.
She joined the company after qualifying as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse and has been finance director of the water business since 1999. Last year she was promoted to become group finance chief as well.
Alison believes the club has a key role to play but is also confident that the lot of women in large organisations such as Yorkshire Water has improved.
She said: “Around half our graduate intake every year is made up of women. They join us not just in the office-bound roles but also in technical jobs on the front line, delivering water and sewage services. That is a welcome development.”
Sue Sharples is joint managing director and part-owner of Barrett Steel Buildings on Cutler Heights Lane. The firm provided and erected the steel framework for the giant Marks & Spencer distribution centre being built by Pro Logis on Rooley Lane.
An accountant by training, Sue has forged her way to the top in a tough masculine environment in a sector which still faces difficult challenges, with BSB shedding around 30 staff in the past year.
She is a strong believer in treating women on their merits. Those who aim high should not be impeded by artificial barriers, provided they attain the skills and qualifications, she says. Sue herself was supported by Barretts to gain an MBA qualification. She is keen to see more female engineers join her sector and other traditionally male-dominated fields.
Sue serves on the council of the British Constructional Steelworks Association, chairs its HR and training committee, and also sits on the industry’s sector skills council, which enables her to influence the way the sector moves forward.
Sue said: “Things are better now than 20 years ago and women don’t face the same ‘glass ceiling’ as before. But, they need to network to develop contacts and opportunities, to gain qualifications and develop their skills to ensure they compete on merit with other colleagues.”
One of those attending the Claire Young lunch was Jacqueline Thompson, for whom a new professional life has begun at 40. She gave up a successful career in construction, where she latterly managed a £37m design-based project, to launch events business Buddy Design.
Working from her Thackley home, she is currently organising a Georgian charity ball in York. Jacqueline, who has a masters degree in design, is also developing links with leading hotels and wedding venues and offering experience based on creating designs for Harrods and working with leading names like Conran.
She said: “It was a tough time to start up last September when the economy went haywire, but I’ve achieved my aim of being my own boss. I had 18 years in construction and have the project-management skills to apply to a different business.
“Listening to Claire Young was both informative and inspirational and made me more determined to succeed. Such events are good because they make you realise that you’re not alone and that there are other women with the same challenges and issues, and comparing notes and ideas is helpful.
“The more events there are for women to get together, the better. Sharing knowledge and experiences helps to make things less intimidating.”
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