Simon Hughes - Liberal Democrats MP (President, Liberal Democrats)

‘It’s great to find the energy of the National Black Women’s Network and its busy agenda for reaching the wide spectrum of women across all communities and at all levels  and which other initiatives are not reaching.
 
There is huge potential in the black community, particularly amongst black women in business.  Many of them just need a little more help  or a little more encouragement and practical advice and support to develop ideas and really take off to start and grow a business.
 
Liberal Democrats need to work on joint programmes to engage all party activities with the network, not just in London but throughout Britain.  The more black women who become involved in taking on business opportunities, the more successful black people will be in the Britain of tomorrow. ‘

Theresa May MP, Shadow Leader of the House & Shadow Minister for Women

It has been a pleasure to work with Sonia Brown and the NBWN which is a really exciting and effective network.

Over 300 NBWN members participated in the regional Let’s Talk Business Roadshow and shared their views with the Shadow Cabinet, senior Conservative MPs, Councillors and Assembly members.

We are now moving forward on a project to encourage NBWN members to consider standing for election and to join us at the Conservative Party Conference in the Autumn.  I wish NBWN every success.

Harriet Harman, Minister for Woman and Equality, said: 

"We congratulate the National Black Women’s Network for the unique and important contribution it makes to the business community and to public life. 

“Sonia Brown and the Network do a tremendous job of supporting women to run their own businesses and take on decision making roles, as well as making sure that the concerns and needs of entrepreneurial women – particularly black and Asian – are heard by Government. 

“The Network has many highly successful and inspirational women among its members. These women, many of whom have set up their own business, recognise that being their own boss gives them control and allows them to balance their work and family life. But men are almost twice as likely as women to start a new business. We are determined to close this gap – not least because the UK needs the huge economic benefits that more women entrepreneurs would bring - which is why the Government recently announced a range of measures, including a £12.5 million Women’s Investment Fund, to support and encourage more women to take the plunge. 

“We congratulate the Network’s efforts to get more women involved in public life. Public bodies make decisions which affect everyone’s lives, which is why it’s so important that the people appointed to these bodies reflect the community they serve. We must encourage and support women from all walks of life - particularly Black and Asian women - to get involved in public life at every level and make our democracy stronger. That’s why we recently announced new measures to improve diversity in public appointments, and why we’ll continue working with Sonia and other organisations. This will make sure that a broader range of people know about the opportunities available. 

“The Government has fought for equal representation and it’s because of this that we have record levels of women MPs, as well as more black and Asian MPs and councillors than ever before. But 80% of MPs are still men, only two MPs are black women, and we’ve never had an Asian woman MP.  That’s why in March I announced that political parties will be able to use All Women Shortlists for another five elections, and why in May we launched a taskforce to increase the number of black and Asian women who are councillors. There will also be a Speaker’s Conference which will further help increase the number of women and black and minority ethnic MPs. 

“We look forward to continuing work with Sonia and the National Black Woman’s Network.”