AS the biggest business organisation in Northern Ireland, Women in Business believes the forthcoming Programme for Government provides a rare opportunity to throw out the old economics rule book and to reignite the birth of a healthier than ever private sector.
Our bid to help create a new and stronger Northern Ireland economy stands a far greater chance now than ever. In our newly published 'Creating a new economy' manifesto, we believe in the four pillars of economic success.
Drafting the new Programme for Government in the next six months provides us with a golden opportunity to engage school children with the concept of business, to encourage more diversity, to support female entrepreneurs and to attract more migration into Northern Ireland.
Women in Business, which now has more than 2,500 members, says the objective is not for women to dominate the economy but to participate fully with men and deliver the benefits of inclusivity.
The US economy discovered years ago that the more gender balance there is in an organisation, the more diverse the work force and the management and the more open to international influences, the more successful and profitable they are. This requires ambition and commitment something Northern Ireland’s new generation of business and organisational leaders are not short of.
What is needed is a few simple decisions at policy level which will allow these ambitions to be fulfilled.
We believe primary school children should be taught about enterprise and business. By introducing the concept of business and entrepreneurship at an early age, the appetite and attitudes for going into business starts to grow.
With regards to diversity, Women in Business includes a list of recommendations including a charter mark to provide proof of diversity initiatives and ethical practice, and the provision of flexible child care policies.
The next PfG must include provision for the support of female specific entrepreneurial programme and we should encourage more migration into Northern Ireland and particularly those who are skilled and will help us build our private sector.
Finally, we need more international perspectives which can only be introduced to us by a greater number of immigrants. Only by expanding our horizons can we as a small part of a small island begin to understand the opportunities which exist beyond our shores.
The 'Creating a New Economy document is available on womeninbusinessni.com
::Roseann Kelly (roseann@ womeninbusinessni.com) is chief executive of Women in Business (www.womeninbusinessni.com), the largest and fastest growing business network for female entrepreneurs and senior women in management in Northern Ireland . Follow Women in Business NI on facebook at www. facebook.com/women-inbusinessni or on twitter @ wibni.
