Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has urged more women to become entrepreneurs during a speech at a 'Make It Your Business' event in her Chipping Barnet constituency.
The evening at the Hadley House Restaurant in Barnet High Street provided an opportunity for women from the local community to discuss their experiences in business and offer advice to the audience. It was well attended, despite sub-zero temperatures.
During her speech, Theresa said: “To be a successful and competitive economy, we need to find ways to persuade more people to turn great ideas into great businesses and it is especially important to persuade more women to do that.
"I know that there is a huge amount of entrepreneurial talent in this area and I’m sure every one of you in this room has the ability to run a successful business, but more needs to be done to give women the support and confidence to go for it."
Following presentations from local businesswomen Mandy Kent of Hadley Green Dental Practice and Paige Sinnott, founder of Odette Beauty, there was a Q&A session and networking. The event was hosted by entrepreneur and founder of The National Women’s Enterprise Network, Alison Cork, and by Gail Laser, founder of Love Barnet.
This initiative is part of a nationwide project set up by Alison Cork to encourage and support women to start their own business. When Alison offered to establish a local network in Barnet, Theresa Villiers was very enthusiastic. The group launched in High Barnet is one of the first of what Alison hopes will be a series of networking events for women across the country. Click here to sign up to ‘Make It Your Business’ to receive free business advice and support.
The next event for Make It Your Business in Barnet takes place on 19th April. Click here if would would like to register to attend. The following invitation has been published by Gail and Alison:
"Following on from our brilliant Make It Your Business seminar in Barnet North London, we are holding our first networking event!
Any woman interested in starting her own business is welcome to attend. We are meeting in a local bar/retaurant and the evening is all about having the chance to meet other like minded women in North London who want to start their own business, or who have already started one.
Its completely free to come along, and there will be a full pay bar and eats menu available.
This promises to be a really lively and fun evening. Everyone is welcome and dont worry if you are coming alone - most of us do and it is a really friendly and helpful event.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Gail and Alison"
Date : Thursday 19th April
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Hadley House Restaurant, High Street, Barnet, EN5 5SU