Voices Heard at Stormont

Members of Women in Business, the fastest growing network of business women in Northern Ireland gathered at Stormont last evening to question a panel of local MLAs on the key business issues facing ...

Monday 2 February 2009

Members of Women in Business, the fastest growing network of business women in Northern Ireland gathered at Stormont last evening to question a panel of local MLAs on the key business issues facing female entrepreneurs.

The event was supported by Invest Northern Ireland and hosted by Anna Lo MLA of the Alliance Party. The debate, lively and provocative at times focused on issues such as support for female entrepreneurs, incentives for new business starts and what local government representatives are doing for locally focused small businesses in the current economic climate.

Christine Boyle, Chair of Women in Business was encouraged by the number of women who attended and had their voice heard, she commented 'It was great to see so many business women at Stormont voicing their opinions and concerns on the real issues they face in today's business environment. Business women need to have their voices heard and we were delighted to provide our members with this opportunity for them to meet and speak with local political representatives, who also did quite well under the heavy weight of questioning from the floor!'

Supporting Anna-Lo on the panel were fellow MLAs Dolores Kelly (SDLP), Dawn Purvis (PUP) and Barry McElduff (Sinn Fein). Aine Maria Mizzoni from leadership and strategy consultancy Guardiano del faro completed the panel and represented the private sector. The panel thanked the audience for their participation and honesty and offered assistance to the group in raising their business related concerns with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sharon Polson of Invest NI's Entrepreneurship Development Team, said: 'Invest NI helps females wishing to start their own business, as well as assisting those women already managing a company to improve performance, expand commercial operations and contribute to the local economy. We have sup

Monday 2 February 2009