A BLACKBURN businesswoman has called for female entrepreneurs to be taken more seriously at a meeting with Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson.

Wendy Bowers, a director of the British Chambers of Commerce, travelled to Whitehall for an event to coincide with yesterday’s International Women’s Day.

She told the Westminster Employment Forum’s Women in the Workplace debate that female entrepreneurs were ‘an under-utilised resource’.

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Last year, Mrs Bowers founded Role, a social enterprise aimed at improving the retention of female management talent.

She told the Liberal Democrat minister: “The Burt Report has highlighted how, with small policy changes, women entrepreneurs could play a bigger role in the UK economy, creating jobs and boosting growth, as well as reducing gender inequality. If we want a truly thriving economy then we must see more women being able to make the most of opportunities.”

Mrs Bowers, who co-founded Colne manufacturing firm Simpsons, later worked as finance director for Blackburn-based Taylors Solicitors.

She said: “This forum is a great opportunity to discuss with the political parties the further action that can be taken.”