Leading entrepreneur Michelle Mone is to call upon the UK’s most successful businesswomen to work together to encourage a new generation of female pioneers.
Set to be a keynote speaker at this year’s Women of the Year awards luncheon on Friday, October 9 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, Ms Mone, founder of the Ultimo brand and recently appointed by the government to carry out a review into how best to encourage start-ups in areas of high unemployment – will hammer home the importance of highlighting and celebrating women’s successes in business and society, promoting role models and inspiring women to reach their potential.
Ms Mone said: “There has never been a more important time to recognise the many and varied achievements of women in today’s business world. Not only is it critical that we highlight those women who are leading lights in their fields and industries, but it is also vital we create role models for the next generation of aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Breaking down the barriers facing ambitious women in many sectors is crucial, and I am therefore delighted to be supporting these awards and to speak at the lunch where the winners will be announced.”
The awards were officially launched earlier this year at a special reception at the House of Lords where an audience of Peers, MPs, and high profile business figures heard about the importance of increasing the visibility of successful women in industry and the need to encourage others to reach their full potential.
Mark Hudson, Dealer Principal, Bentley Birmingham, said: “As sponsors of the Women of the Year Awards we are proud to play a role in celebrating great British women.
“One of Bentley’s brand ambassadors, Michelle’s determination to succeed against the odds in business is well known to us, and we are delighted that she will be attending this year’s luncheon to tell us about her experiences in person.”
The awards are sponsored by Barclays, British Airways, Bentley Motors, Deloitte, Freeths, Pertemps Network Group, SCC and the IXL Events Centre, and will this year raise funds for both Tomorrow’s People and national disability charity Revitalise.
The event is also supported by key industry organisations the Engineering Employers Federation; the Royal Aeronautical Society; the CBI; and – representing tomorrow’s potential – the WMG Academy for Young Engineers at Warwick University.
Awards chair Judy Groves said: “We want to encourage the next generation of role models to enter the award to follow in the footsteps of previous winners such as Karren Brady CBE and Hilary Devey CBE. It is an opportunity to celebrate women who encourage others to make a difference in their company or organisation.
“We welcome entries from all sectors but are also particularly interested in hearing from women who are involved in the engineering sector. I would urge you to either come forward and enter, or – if you know somebody too modest to take part – nominate them yourself.”