Women to the fore as celebration day approaches

As International Women’s Day approaches a call on whether there needs to be more female-centric office spaces has been made.

Next Friday, March 8, marks International Women’s Day.

And Maggie O’Carroll, chief executive of Liverpool-based social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, says there should be more workspaces for women to encourage more female entrepreneurs.

The Women’s Organisation has worked with more than 50,000 women over 22 years, providing help and advice on creating or growing businesses.

Since relocating to its current 54 St James Street base in 2011, it has helped create more than 1,000 new businesses and in excess of 2,000 jobs.

However, figures show that women are more than half as likely to take the plunge into starting up a business as men.

Ms O’Carroll is a firm believer in the power of female-centric spaces, like her organisation’s international centre for women in business which offers the community and networks critical to improving women’s economic participation.

She said: “For many women the prospect of taking their young start-up into the physical business world can be exceptionally daunting.

“This next step in taking on office space requires an incredible level of conviction and assurance – not to mention monetary resources.

“Another fundamental barrier many female-led start-ups face as they begin their journey is the fact that they are working from home.

“The experience of many of our service-users is that this only serves to compound a common issue for women who typically find themselves as primary caregivers.

“This prevents them from making a clear distinction between home life and working life, often reducing their capacity to focus on their business.”

International Women’s Day is also being celebrated by national audit, tax, advisory and risk firm, Crowe, which is hosting an afternoon networking event at its Manchester office in The Lexicon, in Mount Street, on March 6.

Tax partner Rebecca Durrant says the event is part of the firm’s wider commitment to equality through its national “Women’s Empowerment Programme”.

Rebecca Durrant

Rebecca leads Crowe’s Women’s Empowerment Programme which promotes an environment that enables people to reach their full potential, regardless of gender or background.

In Manchester and the North West, Rebecca also works with Girls Out Loud, a charity that aims to empower and inspire teenage girls to have confidence, self-belief, emotional resilience and a positive self-image, helping them to think positively about their future life and potential careers.

Rebecca said: “As we celebrate International Women’s Day I hope other professionals, clients and non-clients will take this opportunity to join us and hear what Crowe is doing to promote gender balance, but also to share their experiences and best practice in this very important area.

“Manchester has a history of strong women, and with the statue of ‘our Emmeline’ just across the square, we are taking this opportunity to celebrate our heritage.”