Clare has a big Goal for women

The head of a new network set up to support professional women in the area today revealed it was her dream to see as many women in charge of firms in the area as men.

Clare Tetlow, 35, of Barrowford, has founded Goal Girls of All Leagues in a bid to promote what she calls professional and elite women.

So far the group has attracted a number of members who do not have to be businesswomen, and can include, for instance, women with an interest in business, or those married to a businessman.

But Mrs Tetlow, who in the past has worked for the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, says that a lot needs to be done in the area before women will be equal to their male counterparts.

She said: "I still think there is a long way to go for it to be an equal playing field.

"It has changed dramatically but I still think that women in business are still not taken quite as seriously. That could be because a lot of women's businesses are seen as lifestyle businesses, but they still help the economy."

Mrs Tetlow, who has also previously worked as a recruitment manager, was made redundant from the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce last year. While at the chamber she was instrumental in setting up the Unique organisation, which organises events for businesswomen.

She launched Goal in April. She said: "Goal is to represent businesswomen, and women in general really.

"It's not just specifically women in business, there are a lot of women out there who support successful businessmen. Or women who don't own their own business but want the opportunity to network. There are a lot of successful women out there who don't own their own business."

Claire Gibson, vice chairman of Unique, backed Mrs Tetlow's claims.

She said: "Over the last three years we have done a lot of work with workshops and trying to build up the confidence in women, the equality and skills necessary.

"There is a long way to go but there are more women in positions of management now."