A recently elected Staffordshire MP is set to co-chair a parliamentary group aimed at boosting female entrepreneurship and tackle barriers to women in business.
Leigh Ingham, who was elected to represent Stafford, Eccleshall and the Villages earlier this year, has been elected as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women and Enterprise.
The APPG – an informal, cross-party group – will see MPs, peers, and its business board collaborating to ensure the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs are considered and promoted cross-party and in both houses.
In 2025, the group will release its third report highlighting areas where the Government and private sector can develop their support and understanding of issues specific to women seeking to start or scale their business.
The APPG’s officers include Labour MPs Leigh Ingham and Catherine Fookes, Conservative MP Aphra Brandreth, and Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins. The officers were elected for their experience in entrepreneurship and/or experience working with women and girls.
Leigh said: “The growth of women owned businesses is a huge area of economic opportunity to the UK. I look forward to working with women founders locally and nationally.”
Declan Riddell, Policy Advisor at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is delighted with the news of Leigh Ingham’s election as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women and Enterprise.
“As a Chamber, we continue to deliver our Women In Business programme, which offers a bespoke programme of support to inspire, boost confidence and raise the self-esteem of women across the county. It’s great to see a local MP at the heart of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women and Enterprise and we look forward to playing our part in empowering more female entrepreneurs in the future.”
