This year's International Women's Day campaign for the Chamber Network is focused on our new landmark survey of more than 4,100 respondents conducted with Find Out Now.
It looks at the perceived impact that childcare, general caring responsibilities and menopause have on a person’s career, as well as the support available to those impacted by the issues.
Based on the stark research findings, we launched a three-year gender equity campaign with the publication of our press release on International Women's Day 2023.
International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated annually on 11 October.
The main aims of the day are to promote girl’s empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face. Launched in 2012 by the United Nations general assembly, amongst the issues focused on by the International Day of the Girl Child are education, equality, child marriage, access to services regarding puberty and sexual health and addressing issues around gender-based violence.
To celebrate International Day of the Girl Child 2022, we showcased some of our fantastic women, in Chambers from Myanmar to Devon and from Nigeria to Dundee. We have a huge number of female senior leaders, at both board and executive level, and we want to showcase their achievements to inspire future generations.
We have a huge number of female senior leaders, at both board and executive level, and we want to showcase their achievements to inspire future generations.
Our vast and growing Network comprises over 130 Chambers across all continents of the world.In every Chamber are strong, confident, self-reliant women, in junior roles and all the way up to CEO and Presidents. Every one of these women is an inspiring ambassador to girls in their communities, who see that their own race, gender, language, economic status or geographic origin isn’t a barrier to a fulfilling career.
International Women’s Day 2022: #BreakTheBias
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. We were excited to take part in the official IWD 2022 campaign, which ties in closely with our aims.
We launched International Women’s Day week with a selection of high-profile women Chamber board members from across the world, explaining why they are pushing for professional equality. We had contributions from:
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On IWD we hosted Chamber Women - Language Matters!, a panel event chaired by BCC Chair, Sarah Howard MBE.
In this session, our high-profile business leaders discussed what business can do to encourage more women into senior roles in organisations.
If you missed this webinar, you can watch back here.
Sarah Howard also took part in an ITN News Special debate, chaired by BBC journalist Louise Minchin.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce in conversation with Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE.
Ruby’s distinguished career has seen her as one of a small number of female CEOs in the FTSE 250, having spent fourteen years at Mitie Group PLC and as its CEO for ten years. If you missed this webinar, you can watch back here.
We are proud to support and collaborate with the WOW Foundation by taking part in mentoring sessions during the WOW London Festival 2022. Click here to find out more about their work.
In 2021, our Chamber Network across the globe joined in the celebrations and to mark the day we asked a selection of female CEOs from across our UK and international Chamber Network "What do you wish you had known about the world of work when you were a teenager?”
Take a look below at some of their reflections:
The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2021 was 'Choose To Challenge'. See below how our Chamber Network marked the day in 2021.
In conversation with Alison Rose - watch back our IWD webinar:
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Reflections from our Chamber Network:
Some of the BCC team share their thoughts about the importance of International Women's Day. Take a look by clicking the images below:
Reacting to today’s interest rate decision by the Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses will be giving a cautious welcome to today’s decision by the Bank of England to hold the base rate at 5.25%. Constant hikes in the cost-of-borrowing have had a hugely detrimental impact on the firms we represent. "
If we are to meet the challenge of making the UK Net Zero by 2050 then we must have pragmatic goals, that business can be confident they will be supported to reach. Companies want to address climate change but cannot plan for future investment if the sands keep shifting.
Campaigners, including the BCC, have worked for years to have the Electronic Trade Documents Act passed, and its introduction is a huge milestone.
Today’s CPI rate of 6.7%, while proving stubborn, shows that inflation is continuing to gradually ease off. Producer price inflation (PPI) fell by 2.3%. This should give the Bank of England pause for thought with the interest rate decision tomorrow.
