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Back to Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund News – Issue 14

Q&A: Female leadership in the North

For International Women’s Day, we focused on the challenges female business leaders face. We asked the North’s leading businesswomen their thoughts on progress for women in the industry and what Breaking the Bias means to them.

Here are just some of the views from our female leaders, giving us valuable insight into the importance of gender equality in business and the advice they would give to other female entrepreneurs.

Debbie Francis OBE, Chair of Lancashire LEP said:

‘’Female leaders who have already forged the way within their organisations can be role models and challengers in breaking the bias. I’m lucky to work with fantastic – and men – across our organisation and partners who recognise the challenge we still face and are actively promoting equal opportunities for women.”

Catherine Lewis La Torre, CEO at the British Business Bank said:

‘’Lack of access to investment teams and peer networks are just a few of the many barriers that female entrepreneurs face when looking to grow. At British Business Bank, our goal is to break down those barriers and our regional funds such as NPIF are brilliant examples of what can be done.’’

Laura Leyland, Co-Founder and
Manager of Fresh Perspective, said:

“Reach for the stars, have absolute faith in yourself at all times and listen to your gut – it’s usually right.  Talk to other business owners and share your stories. Promote yourself,
and your personality daily, be authentic and true to yourself, let people see who you really are – it will have a HUGE impact in the best possible way.””

Sue Barnard, Senior Manager at British Business Bank, said:

‘’Do not be afraid. Everyone has something to offer, you just need to embrace the opportunity.’’

Joanne Whitfield, Fund Director at NPIF – FW Capital said:

‘Be brave, be ambitious, and believe in yourself. Learn from your mistakes, persevere, accept your failures, and grow from them. Build a strong support network of brilliant people you can learn from and who will push you to make your dreams a reality’

 

The  Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Editors Notes