Lancashire's business women urged to inspire future female entrepreneurs

Female managers, directors and leaders are being urged to join the Oysters and Pearls project which launches on International Women’s Day.

It is being backed by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

The aim is to raise the profile of women in business and enthuse the Karen Bradys and the Deborah Meadens of the future.

The Oysters and Pearls event on March 8 – so named to show young women that the world really could be their oyster – will be held at Preston’s College from 9am.

Organiser of the event Wendy Bowers from the Role group which works to advance women’s participation in business, said the Chamber was looking for 50 women to each sponsor one young woman and inspire them at the start of their careers.

She said: “This is a very important and exciting project.

“In the journey of any successful role model you will find a moment in their history when someone inspired them.

“We know that women out there could be that someone who inspires our next generation and we are asking them to help raise the aspiration of 50 female college students who may not be destined for Oxbridge, but who have a genuine spark which just needs a little oxygen.”

She added: “This International Women’s Day we are looking for 50 women in senior positions, in business or a wide variety of sectors, to get involved.

“They could be from media, logistics, professional services but it would be great to get women from non-traditional women’s roles to come forward.”