Championing Women in Leadership: Why I'm Proud to Be Part of the Lancashire Women's Enterprise Steering Group
Inspiring women to step into their full potential as business leaders has always been important to me. From the way we operate at Down at the Social (flexibly ALWAYS), to the clients we champion and the communities we support, empowering women in business isn’t just a side note - it’s a core value.
Down at the Social PR event for women in business
That’s why I’m proud to be a founding member of the Lancashire Women’s Enterprise Steering Group (LWESG), a passionate and powerful collective working to reshape the business landscape in our region.
Why the Lancashire Women’s Enterprise Steering Group Matters
The LWESG was formed in response to Wendy Bowers’ Growing Women, Growing Lancashire report, which highlighted a startling opportunity: if women in Lancashire started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, our county’s economy could grow by £3 billion. That’s a 10% uplift—just by unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs.
The group is made up of trailblazers from across sectors—business owners, educators, council leaders, and corporate professionals—all committed to driving up the number of female business owners and women in senior leadership roles across Lancashire.
I first met Wendy when I joined a programme she was running for Boost Lancashire called Women Scaling Up. She inspired me to follow her lead and get involved in shaping how our country operates.
Our goal is ambitious but achievable:
✅ 30% of Lancashire business owners to be women
✅ 45% of senior employed leaders to be women
It’s about so much more than numbers. It’s about shaping a fairer, more dynamic economy where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
My Passion for Supporting Women in Business
At Down at the Social, I’ve worked alongside some incredible women-led businesses—from hospitality to retail, social impact to start-ups. I’ve seen the unique challenges women face—balancing business ambitions with family life, navigating funding gaps, battling imposter syndrome, and often, doing it all with limited support.
I have also employed a lot of women - it’s PR after all! Girls defo run the PR world!
Joining the steering group has given me a platform to not only advocate for change, but to help create it. Whether it’s through thought leadership, mentorship, or just being in the room where decisions are made, I am keen to be part of the momentum that’s moving Lancashire forward.
Real Change Starts with Real Conversations
At our latest LWESG event, I was part of an electric morning of conversations with over 40 brilliant women and allies. We didn’t just talk about problems—we shared what’s working, asked hard questions, and left with actions.
Topics included:
How flexible working opens doors to leadership
Why measuring progress (not just intentions) matters
The ripple effect women leaders have on culture, mentoring, and confidence
These are the discussions that ignite action.
Empowering female founders through strategic PR
What's Next?
As a Steering Group, our focus now is on raising visibility, building partnerships, and creating practical frameworks to support women at every stage—from startup founders to boardroom leaders.
We would like to invite as many businesses and most importantly, MEN, to join the movement and show up for the women around them - be they colleagues, wives, daughters or friends.
Want to Get Involved?
If you're a woman in business—or an ally—who wants to know more or share your knowledge and experiences, let’s talk. Whether it’s collaboration, mentoring, or just showing up to the next event, your voice matters.
A great place to start is our Linkedin page.