Successful businesswomen deserve greater recognition – Lord Jones
FORMER Trade Minister Lord Jones of Birmingham has said successful businesswomen should receive far greater recognition for their efforts.
Lord Jones aims to rectify this when he chairs the judges for this year’s Businesswoman of the Year awards.
He said: “Throughout my business life, I have met so many talented businesswomen from all different sectors.
“There is a huge amount of talent and skill shown by women entrepreneurs or senior members of a company’s management team and these awards are the perfect way to highlight some of the fantastic work they are doing.
“There is a particular focus nationally at the moment on engineering and manufacturing in which the Midlands has a strong tradition, and it would be great to see a strong representation from those sectors.”
He said he hoped for a strong entry regardless of whether the women worked for SMEs or larger companies.
“We want entries from those who are making a difference and showing their value,” he added.
Lord Jones, who recently presented BBC 2’s Troubleshooter business programme and is a former Director General of the CBI, said creating wealth through business was vital for the wellbeing and success of the country.
“It is only through business doing well, owners investing and taking on staff who pay taxes, that the public sector is funded. Without the success of business we have nothing,” he said.
Awards chair Judy Groves said she wanted women to overcome their natural modesty to enter the awards.
“One of the most difficult aspects is encouraging women, or their colleagues, to celebrate their achievements by entering the awards,” she said.
She said this year there was a particular emphasis on encouraging nominations from the engineering sector.
“We want entrepreneurs and top executives to act as catalysts for aspiring young women who are considering entering the business world to think seriously about a career in manufacturing, engineering and science,” she added.
The awards take place at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel on October 10.
Former winners include Karren Brady, star of The Apprentice and vice-chairman at West Ham United, former TV Dragon Hillary Devey, Sarah Tremellen, founder and chief executive of Bravissimo, Emma Elston, co-founder of UK Container Maintenance, Julie White, managing director of D-Drill, and Asha Khemka, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College.
