Galway Independent Column - 9 March 2011

Yesterday was International Women’s Day which is an appropriate time to mention the ongoing work of one of Galway Chamber’s projects, the EU Network of Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship operated by the Enterprise Europe Network.

Statistically within Europe the lack of exploitation of entrepreneurial potential is even more acute when analysed by gender. Compared with men, fewer women are self-employed in the EU, and fewer women start-up businesses. A couple of years ago the European Commission made a decision to promote female entrepreneurship and create a business environment that facilitates the creation and development of women-led companies. In 2009 the European Commission issued a call to establish an EU Network of Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship to be operated by the Enterprise Europe Network.

The aim of establishing this network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors is to boost the rate of female entrepreneurial activity across the EU. The network of Ambassadors should, it said, inspire women to become entrepreneurs and to set up their own business. The Ambassadors help to raise the confidence in setting up and creating successful businesses. They are also role models to inspire other women to become entrepreneurs by “telling their story”.

Responding to the call, members of the Irish Enterprise Europe Network submitted an application to establish the Irish Network of Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship. The application was led by Galway Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Cork Chamber of Commerce. A total of 10 Ambassadors were nominated in Ireland and recommended to the European Commission for inauguration. The 10 Irish Ambassadors join an EU wide network of over 120 successful European businesswomen who kicked off the campaign to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.

The EU Network of Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship was formally appointed on 5th October 2009 by Commissioner Vladimir Spidla at an inauguration event organised by the European Commission in collaboration with the Swedish Presidency of the EU in Stockholm, Sweden. The Ambassadors received their diplomas by HRH, the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden who supported the event.

The three Galway Ambassadors are: Liz Cassidy – Irish Time Design; Judy Greene – Judy Greene Pottery and Audrey Kinahan – University Late Night Pharmacy who each have excelled in their chosen area of business and who have already made their mark in the entrepreneurship sector and can use this experience to inspire female entrepreneurship and encourage women to turn their ideas into reality.