MP RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL LUMINARY AWARD

4.33.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Jun 2009

Lorely Burt MP with her International Luminary award

Solihull's Liberal Democrat MP, Lorely Burt is making a name for herself on the international stage for her work promoting women in business within the UK. She was recently awarded one of only two international luminary awards for her work promoting WEConnect UK, established along the same lines as the highly influential Women's Business Enterprise National Council in America.

"Two years ago I discovered that while women-owned businesses constitute only 14% of businesses in the UK, in America they have more than double that percentage. Translated into actual numbers, this would mean about 750,000 more women-owned businesses for Britain," said Lorely.

"Global companies like IBM, Cisco and Staples understand that it's good business to buy from companies who look like the people they supply to. They want to buy from women-owned businesses in the UK too.

So I helped set up a similar organisation in the UK. It's called WEConnect, connecting women-owned and run enterprises with companies who have a policy of supply diversity. We launched WEConnect last year, and although it grows from strength to strength, we are still a long, long way behind the USA.

To me, being able to use my position as an MP to help projects like this makes the job very worthwhile. I have made many friends and learned a great deal about the way Americans do business along the way. Sure they're pushy, but they put total focus into getting the outcome they want. There are no half measures, and they take no prisoners!

It's not a bad maxim for us to adopt. Some members of WBENC, the American equivalent of WEConnect, came over earlier this year. 'How's business?' I asked. 'Man, we're drinking from the fire hose!' said one woman. They decided they aren't participating in the recession: a mental approach that we would do well to adopt."

Canadian MP Helena Gueris, who also received the award said:

"It's important to have an award for women who are, in my opinion, tireless champions for women entrepreneurs. It's also an honour to be alongside of Lorely Burt from the UK."