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WOMEN IN BUSINESS


Real funding. Real deals.


Real decisions. Growing a business, planning an acquisition, or exploring investment? This is where you’ll learn how funding really works.


IN ASSOCIATION WITH:


Steve Bell Pierce


Martin Emmott Rosebud


PRESENT:


Richard Slater, Lancashire Business View (Chair) Siobhan Collingwood, Lancashire Women Reta Rose, Farleys Solicitors Katy Allen, One Four Nine Group Miranda Barker, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Hamera Bano, 24hr Healthcare Fehmeeda Saddique, BAKO Group Kirsty Robinson, Anderton Gables Sophie Gray, ICT Reverse Laurie Taylor, VARS Technology


SHATTERING THE CEILING Derry Green Secret Garden Glamping Ben Smith Kingsley Asset Finance


Date: 17 June 2026 Time: 08.30-11.00 Venue: Village Hotel Blackpool


Brought to you by: Express your interest here In association with: Supported by:


Siobhan Collingwood, chief executive at Lancashire Women


The glass ceiling is definitely there and it matters for lots of different reasons. It matters because businesses that have a more equitable distribution on the board tend to have around a 30 per cent difference in profitability. It matters for women because


Following on from the Women in Business feature in our last edition, which highlighted the need for more female representation in Lancashire’s boardrooms and in key roles, we continued the debate at the offices of Farleys Solicitors in Padiham. Bringing together women from a range of sectors we invited them to share their stories and thoughts on how change can be affected.


of economic vulnerability. The pay gap that arises from of a lack of leadership positions for women is massive.


We have to address how we make sure we retain our workforce as they are going through parenthood. We know that more than 60 per cent of caring responsibilities fall on women and research shows the positive impact that flexible work practices and flexible timekeeping in the workplace have when it comes to presenteeism.


How do you bring about social change? First, you ‘light the fires of righteous indignation’ and that’s why we are publishing a report later this year called ‘Hear My Voice’ which will really flag up the issues for women. Then you challenge the inevitability - it doesn’t always have to be that way. Then you create moral alternatives and paint a different picture.


We shouldn’t just say it has always been like that and it always will be. We need to smash that.


When you look at the gender pay gap and the lack of women in directorship level roles, women are not being heard. Their voice isn’t there, it isn’t in the room.


Reta Rose, partner and head of operations at Farleys Solicitors


The legal sector is stereotypically very male-heavy, it always has been.


We are doing a lot to challenge that. It is about the pipeline and bringing people in.


Last year 60 to 70 per cent of trainee solicitor applications came from females, so we have got that pipeline.


It is at that higher level where the glass ceiling is still there. People, and women in particular, need to see women in higher roles. The saying is ‘you can’t be it if you can’t see it’. We need visible role models, the mothers in business that are challenging the norm.


Young boys have to see it as well, see females in those roles. I saw the woman who went round the Moon and just thought, all these young girls will be looking and thinking, ‘Yes I can do that’. Incredible.


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