Women In Domestic Economics

This year the Enterprising Women Summit, held at the Houses of Parliament, grew up.  Gone was the oh-how-soft-how-innocent baby pink of last year.  Now we were dazzled by fuchsia, magenta, rich burgundy, and a solitary flash of bubble gum pink, all set off against those ubiquitous dark suits which women seem to think are still de rigeur during office hours.  These were mature, autumnal shades, serious and quirky, mysterious and flirty, confident and sensual.

It suited the occasion, organised in association with the Pink Shoe Club, to find how we as women could best serve in the light of the current economic shifts. It's something that I am passionate about.  Women have a vital role to play in the organisation of our economy, specifically in how we can build trust, working locally through community, and making a global difference. This was precisely what we were here for.

The central part of the summit is a debate in one of the Grand Committee Rooms of the House of Commons.  The atmosphere was as far from that of a giggling girl school reunion as it was from a boardroom.   We were there to do something evolutionary: we were there to create our future.  Amid all the formal frivolity (no jolly jinks, ladies, please!), this group of over 100 amazing, successful women from a diverse, and representative, range of talent from across the country (and a smattering of men)  represented a wealth of experience, expertise and resources ready to be tapped.  The MP who welcomed us on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Entrepreneurship knew that sending a buzz of excitement, recognition and determination through the room: "you are the answer to the recession."

There was though another comment, made by the dynamic Sandi Rhys-Jones, which summed up both the tone and the intention: "I've lived through two, if not three, deep recessions - and survived - let's make sure that we come out of this one different from how we were when we entered it."  In that moment, we all recognised how vital it was that we come together, communicate and collectively impact.

This debate was a harvesting of the issues which had come up in the afternoon when we discussed the theme of this summit, in true elegant and graceful fashion over Afternoon Tea (what else?).In the Tea, which I hosted in the House of Lords, we focused on how we could practically promote, support and encourage small, local businesses. As luck would have it, our group included a delightful shoe designer who is launching her own range here in London, manufactured in her small village set in picturesque Tuscany.  This excellent example drew out some very strong points:

Women are naturally very loyal and great ambassadors, rather than customers, who like to work with companies they buy from, giving feedback and receiving service.

We saw that as women we had a vital role to play: the history of the domestic economy shows that women make the majority of the buying decisions, for example, which butcher, baker and candlestick maker to use.  Let us now accept that we are consumers, and consciously act accordingly as conscious consumers, lead by example and see our spending as investment.  Recognise our importance in how we spend and choose to invest only where we feel comfortable with the values that they offer.

Transparency of sourcing is a key to future enterprise, especially when it is ethical, community-based and supports craftmenship not exploitation.

Local and national government must positively support and encourage enterprise, self-employment and investing in self-employed businesss in practical ways such as tax concessions, rate reductions and making space available.  For the well-being and morale of the country we need to build self-respect and self-esteem on a grass-roots level by getting those people laid off in this recession back into working is vital.  Not back into a job.

Education is vital to get these messages across, what is the true cost of not buying local?

Our key words: specialist, local, small, globally-local 
Our key concepts: collaboration, communication/community, reciprocation. 
Our key values: honesty, openness, non-judgment. 

During the debate I noted down these little gems:

• Responsibility is individual and collective, not either or
• See your role in the whole
• Charge for your services and serve freely
• Appreciate and make available affordable advice
• Create flexible, affordable and cost-effective structures – cut the flab, cut to the chase
• Create apprenticeships, not free youth work
• Improve literacy  - 100% is a  minimum for our country’s success

We adjourned to a reception overlooking Abbey Gardens with much discussion happening on the way.  Looking around, I realised that we are only a fraction of the women who make up the backbone of this country.  On a daily basis we are all making decisions which will affect the future.  We do have collectively what it takes not only to make a difference but to take this to a different way of thinking about what is important to us.   It's no longer an option to pretend you don't know how important you are in the economy and blaming politicians.  Every time you put your hand in your purse you are making an investment decision.  Are you investing in a future you want to be part of?  If not, why not?  It's up to you, it's up to us all now...