Enterprise, politics and community support will come together when HullBid revives its Inspiring Women dinner as one of the highlights of Humber Business Week.
It has been a sell-out every year and demand is again high for a speaker line-up of Emma Hardy MP, Language is Everything chief executive Carolyn Johnson MBE and Sam Barlow BEM, the founder of Fitmums and Friends.
Kathryn Shillito, executive director of the business improvement district, recently returned for a further term, said: “We are thrilled to be able to bring back the HullBID Inspiring Women dinner and to offer such high calibre speakers who have really made an impact in business, politics and the community locally and much further afield.
Read more: Business Week to celebrate 'getting back together' as Humber gears up for showcase events
“We know from the experience of our previous dinners that this is one of the most popular events in the programme. It provides a rare opportunity for fun networking and it is certainly inspirational.”
Language is Everything was established in 1992 and Carolyn said she wanted to mark the 30th anniversary by celebrating the place that inspired her and the people who have made it possible.
“Sponsoring a Business Week event seemed fitting, and the Inspiring Women dinner especially so, as Language is Everything has recently been named one of the top three workplaces for women in the UK by Great Place to Work,” she said.
Carolyn added that she wants to share her story in the context of the revival of the Humber region which she believes has been important to the company’s success.
She said: “A thriving regional economy and cultural sector leads to enhanced opportunities, increased business confidence and employees with a positive mindset.”
Fitmums and Friends dates back to 2009 when Sam’s eldest child started school and she suddenly realised she was missing the opportunity to meet and socialise with other parents in Cottingham. She used her love of running to organise sociable jogging sessions and, after starting with four mums, now has more than 1,000 members with 14 groups stretching across the region.
When Sam’s husband Mike died of cancer in October 2020, the family set up a fund in his name to offer help to anyone who may be struggling to access support. Sam also used her personal experience of bereavement to develop a programme of walking and yoga sessions for adults and an outdoor activity project for children which now support others in Hull who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
In December last year Sam was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero, an award which recognises the volunteers in sport whose efforts are making a difference to communities. She has now added public speaking to her hectic schedule.
She said: “I am so excited about the opportunity to speak at the HullBid Inspiring Women event as part of Business Week. After winning the BBC award I have been sharing my story which I’m told is inspiring! It is essentially the story of an ‘ordinary mum’ who despite adversity creates an organisation which supports hundreds of men, women and children to reap the rewards of being active.
“A little venture which started in an East Yorkshire village has now spread across Yorkshire and into North East Lincolnshire and continues to grow. I am honoured to be included in the line-up of inspiring women and I look forward to joining an amazing event”.
Emma said support for women is one of the key drivers for the Work Hull Work Happy initiative which was launched earlier this year, promoting the city as the remote and co-working capital of the UK.
She said: “The way we use our city centres is changing rapidly and HullBID has a vital role to play in that transformation. Work Hull, Work Happy is a part of this need to reimagine what is possible in our city.
“Even as the main breadwinner, women are still too often expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of caring and domestic responsibilities. Expanding the opportunities in remote and co-working to give greater flexibility in where, when and how you work will open the door to more women to pursue their ambitions.”
HSBC is also backing the event at The Deep on Thursday, June 8.
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