Stockport celebrates its female leaders on International Women’s Day

8th March 2023 is International Women’s Day, and Stockport is marking the occasion by celebrating its female leaders and the inspirational women who help shape our borough and our communities.

International Women’s Day takes place every year to celebrate the achievements of women across the world. This year’s theme is ‘Embrace Equity’, and below you can hear from of Stockport’s most inspirational women who, along with their teams, are making a huge difference in our society.

Louise Parrott-Bates, CEO of Pure Innovations:
“I want to live in a society that cultivates diversity and inclusion.”

Helen McHale, CEO of Stockport Homes Group:
“We like people to ‘be you’, to be themselves at work, and our aim is that it is as likely for a woman to be a joiner as it is for a man to be a mobile warden.”

Anna Charles Jones, Councillor for Heald Green ward:
“This year I have worked to embrace equity as part of the Councils cross-party working group.”

Michaela Buck, CEO Mastercall Healthcare:
“International Women’s Day is important in assuring women’s voices are heard and female achievements are celebrated.”

Jan Iceton, Chair of Smart Works, Greater Manchester:
“Equity is a fantastic theme for us irrespective of race, age, disability, sole parent, educational background.”

Rachel Bresnahan, founder of The Cherry Tree project:
“Equity isn’t about treating everyone the same; it’s about treating everyone differently based on what they need.”

Stockport Council will also be sharing via their social media channels videos of female leaders from across the borough talking about what equity means to them, and how they incorporate it into their work.

Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing at Stockport Council, commented:

“International Women’s Day is a great way to celebrate all of the wonderful women we have here in Stockport. This year’s theme of ‘Embrace Equity’ highlights the importance of ensuring that we are all working to level the playing field for all of our women and girls, by creating opportunities for everyone to shine, regardless of their background. We all have a part to play in promoting equity in our communities.

“I encourage everyone to get involved with the events going on this year to celebrate International Women’s Day: whatever your gender let’s champion the women who play such key roles at home, at work, volunteering and in all settings in our communities throughout Stockport!”

There are also lots of events going on across the borough to help celebrate International Women’s Day.

Join Stockport libraries in partnership with the Stockport Women’s Networking Group for an afternoon of female led talks, workshops and demo ranging from Laughter Yoga to Mirror Work. Hosted at Central Library from 1pm – 4.30pm, the event is free to attend and features a range of inspirational female speakers. Anyone is welcome to attend! Book your place via Eventbrite.

On Friday (10th March) join the Stockport Women and Girls Network along with Make a Difference for their 2nd annual Community Awards! With guest speakers, performers, a cultural lunch and even a prize raffle, it should be a fantastic event celebrating all the work that’s going on by our inspirational women in Stockport. Tickets are sold out online, but a small amount are available on the door for £10 per person. The event takes place from 9.30am – 2.30pm at The Guildhall (169 Wellington Road South, SK1 3UA).

Following International Women’s Day, Stockport museums are hosting an event at the Hat Works museum on the 15th March. The event gathers makers, researchers and creatives from a range of disciplines to examine what women mean to archives today. This event is hosted and facilitated by Hat Works Museum and Stockport Local Heritage Library with funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It is developed in partnership with Manchester School of Art. Book your ticket now on Eventbrite.