Two prominent Dundee businesswomen are leading a nationwide organisation set up to promote the voice of women in the commercial life of Scotland.
The newly appointed chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce Alison Henderson, an experienced business owner who is well known in the city through her My Pinkie Promise venture, was elected as president of the Association of Scottish Businesswomen (ASB) last month.
Joining her in leading the organisation is vice-president Wendy Maltman, a former chairwoman of business support group Women Ahead. She studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee and is owner of the city’s well-established Malting House graphic design studio.
The ASB was founded in 1995 as the umbrella organisation for a number of business and professional women’s clubs throughout Scotland, including Women Ahead.
Two years ago it geared up to a more political role with a new vision and strategy.
“Our aim is to give a stronger voice to women in business,” Alison told The Courier.
“We aim to be the leading Scottish network association for businesswomen by supporting our members and increasing and strengthening women’s business opportunities in Scotland.
“We work with government, both national and local, enterprise organisations and businesses to further the interests of women in business, the professions and the voluntary sector.
“We also encourage personal and professional development as well as promoting business opportunities. This is through connecting, networking and consulting members, and recognising individual and business achievement.”
In wanting to give women greater prominence and influence in business, their aim is not to achieve a set quota of females in boardrooms.
“We don’t look on this as being about numbers,” Alison said. “We think that would be tokenism. We want women to be able to play as full a role in business life as they can, and to make progress on their merits for the contribution they can make.”
The ASB recently made its voice heard by taking the opportunity to be a consultee in the Scottish Government’s draft Framework and Action Plan for Women’s Enterprise.
The initiative was prompted by recognition that the Scottish economy needs more women-owned businesses, and the document invited comments and suggestions to guide the actions required to tackle the enterprise gender gap.
The framework covered the economic rationale for promoting women’s enterprise, and outlines the support required to encourage more women to start and grow businesses in Scotland.
The ASB is also working with Women’s Enterprise Scotland to develop research, influence policy and lobby government and its agencies to highlight the contribution women’s enterprise makes to the Scottish economy.