Entrepreneurs, investors and government officials came together last week on invitation of the Women's Enterprise Task Force, a governmental agency headed by female Internet hero Glenda Stone of Aurora to celebrate International Women's Day. The priority of the Women's Enterprise Task Force (WETF) for the year ahead is to focus on the impact of the recession.  The Task Force believes that women's enterprise can be one of a number of enablers for economic recovery and is calling upon private and public sectors to support women in business during the recession, by providing targeted support through access to finance and procurement opportunities.

In the various talks many statistics about the UK, US and Canada were conveyed: in the UK 28% Labour MP's are women, 27% self-employed are women, 150.000 companies are started by women each year and 16% of the 4 million SME's are run by women. In the US 66% of women entrepreneurs are willing to take above average risks, and in doing so are likely to consult with experts. 81% of women with a turnover of 1 million or more belong to networking organisations. Women in Canada have started small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at about twice the rate of men.

In the labour market women may drop out totally due to the recession, women entrepreneurs are more positive than men. As their companies are low risk, low cost, without high debt levels, they can spend more time on winning contracts than funding. Women founders of high-growth companies rely more on bank loans than on equity.

Vera Baird, Queens Counsel, MP and Solicitor General discussed that The Enterprise Task Force has realized its goals:

• National Mentoring Network, and a cross mentoring scheme of the FTSE100 where 30 ambitious women are matched with FTSE CEO's.
• Pilot of Women Business Centres
• Launch of Aspire Matching Fund of 12,5 million Pounds.
• Introduction of a Re-connect Programme
• Enterprise Guarantee Scheme, which since January 2009 has guaranteed 400 loans.

Furthermore, a roundtable event has been organized in 11 Downing Street in preparation of the G20. As a legal matter, in the equality bill the abolishment of secrecy classes will be a fact in order to nuance equal pay.

On a practical matter, the Enterprise Task Force has published a booklet called 'Real Help for Women'.