News / International Women's Day

Event being held to celebrate women in business

By Rachel Sutherland  Monday Feb 27, 2023

To mark International Women’s Day, an event is being held to celebrate women in the world of business in the South West.

Business West is hosting the event to celebrate female entrepreneurs with a focus on the importance of embracing equity in business.

The event, which will take part at Leigh Court, aims to connect businesswomen, to provide an opportunity to network and to have discussions around the theme of gender equity.

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Business West is hosting the event to celebrate female entrepreneurs in the South West – photo: Business West

There will be a Q&A and a panel consisting of Donna Speed, CEO of We The Curious; LaToyah McAllister Jones, executive director of St Paul’s Carnival; Rachel Geliamassi, managing director of Stagecoach West; Jaya Chakrabarti, president of Bristol Chambers of Commerce and founder of TISCreport; and Lucy Ackland, senior product manager at Renishaw.

Emma Carter, membership director at Business West who will be leading the panel, said: “This event, which will bring together both members and non-members of Business West, is a great way to bring our region’s businesses together to highlight how far we’ve come in terms of equity in business, but also how far there is to go.

The gender pay gap remains at eight per cent, while data shows only eight per cent of women hold leadership positions compared with 13 per cent of men.

“Awareness days like this help to keep the conversation going on how we can reach a more level playing field in business.”

The event, being held on Wednesday, March 8, will also include a free networking session and lunch.

To register for the B Corp’s event, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-west-international-womens-day-tickets-522577622737

Main photo of LaToyah McAllister Jones courtesy of Business West

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