West Midlands Women’s Voice

We are women working together to support the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in setting an agenda for economic growth and better social welfare - with the role of women central to this new political and economic forum.

Our group represents businesses across the sector as well as the arts – all wanting a say in WMCA strategy.

Historically, the West Midlands was the ‘workshop of the world’.

The new challenge is to lead the Midlands Engine, drive jobs, prosperity and economic growth - helping to rebalance the UK economy and plug the £16bn productivity gap.

To achieve this ambition the WMCA must listen to the multitude of voices representing the West Midlands in all its diversity - including the power of the women’s voice.

Events

15th July 2020
Build back better: level up the playing field for women in the regions
18:45
Zoom Meeting

Watch the event on YouTube here: Build back better To successfully "build back better" after the coronavirus requires working with and through the regions and nations of the UK. In England, decision-making around lockdown - and now the exiting of lockdown - has been...

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22nd April 2020
Packing a Punch on a Panel
12:00 - 15:00
Weightmans, St Philips Point, B2 5AF

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4th March 2020
Celebrate The Roaring West Midlands
09:30 - 16:00
The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA

From the 1920s to the 2020s we celebrate the women and men shaping our region. We invite you to join us for a day of inspirational discussions, artistic performance and thought-provoking panel debates.  Key note speakers: Samira Ahmed - an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and...

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28th January 2020
Wellbeing and Place - how does our environment impact upon on physical and mental health and wellbeing
17:00
RICS Midlands Office, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham

This is fast becoming a key issue for many of us working across the built environment as it impacts directly or where and how we work, live and play. We have long known that our built environment can affect our physical healthy and now, far from being taboo, mental wellbeing is quite rightly...

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27th June 2019
Coffee and Cake Discussions: Being 19 in 2019
6.00pm - 7.30pm
John Lewis Community Hub, 2 Station Street, Birmingham B2 4AU

The West Midlands is booming. A hot spot for investment; record levels of residential development; new restaurants opening all the time; and, with the Coventry City of Culture 2021 and the Commonwealth Games coming in 2022, we'll be on the world's stage.  But unfortunately...

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6th March 2019
In Conversation With Dr Helen Pankhurst
10am - 4pm
The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA

Who is Dr Helen Pankhurst? Helen is a women’s right activist and senior advisor to CARE International, working in the UK and in Ethiopia. She is a trustee of ActionAid, a Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE and Visiting Professor at MMU. Helen is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline...

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30th January 2019
Digital Horizons
12.30pm - 2.30pm
iCentrum, Innovation Birmingham Campus, Holt Street, Birmingham B7 4BP

West Midlands Women’s Voice &  Innovation Birmingham are hosting a collaborative 'Digital Horizons' event to hear about the technology landscape within the West Midlands and in particular the agenda for building digital skills from both a public policy and business...

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25th October 2018
Dinner with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Diva Manc and Northern Powerhouse Women.

Dinner with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (‘GMCA’), Diva Manc and Northern Powerhouse Women. Keynote speaker was Dame Helena Morrissey. Responses to her inspirational talk were given by GMCA, Sir David Eastwood (Birmingham University) and WMCA.

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25th October 2018
Research launch with Fawcett Society

WMWV commissioned and launched on 25/10 the first major polling in the West Midlands on a number of key gender questions. This work was undertaken by Fawcett and Andy Street attended the launch. Subsequently much of this data was used for the submission WMWV made to WMCA on the local industrial...

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17th September 2018
Housing - Hosted at Birmingham City Football Club

WMWV heard from Deborah Cadman & Gareth Bradford of WMCA as to the housing strategy that the WMCA are planning to adopt and the need for this to be done on an inclusive basis . Birmingham City Foundation talked about their community engagement and ACC Sarah Boycott talked about creating...

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25th June 2018
Leadership event

Hosted at DLA. WMWV heard from the Leadership Commission team-headed by Anita Bhalla as to the work they had conducted and ;launched at the end of the Summer. The Mayor Andy Street had made it one of his initial pledges to investigate the level of inclusivity or otherwise across the...

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8th February 2018
First WMWV Meeting For 2018
8am - 9.30am
The Chancellor’s Hall, Wulfruna Building, University of Wolverhampton

We are delighted to confirm that our first West Midlands Women’s Voice meeting for 2018 took place on Thursday 8 th February 2018 , from 8am prompt – 9.30am . Kindly hosted by the University of Wolverhampton, our next meeting will discuss how capturing a diversity of...

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14th November 2017
WMWV participate at National Social Value Conference

WMWV participate at National Social Value Conference -  www.socialvalueportal.com

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11th September 2017
West Midlands Women’s Voice in Conversation with Diva Manc
7.30-9.00am
DLA Piper, Victoria Square

Deborah Cadman the new CEO of WMCA spoke with the group in advance of taking office on 18th Sept. She spoke on a panel with representatives from Northern Powerhouse and Diva Manc. There was a recognition that adversity between geographies was to the detriment of UK plc .Collaboration...

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8th May 2017
Third Meeting of WMWV

Within days of coming to office as Mayor Andy Street, co-founder of WMWV Nicola Fleet Milne welcomes Andy to the third meeting of WMWV. Andy shared with the group his vision for his term in office, recognising the need to connect with all sections of the West Midlands population. Fully...

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17th March 2017
MIPIM 2017

WMWV offers a hand of friendship to DIVA MANC at MIPIM France. In recognition that both the Northern Powerhouse and WMCA will be drivers of regeneration across their geographical areas both were out  in force at MIPIM - an international property exhibition. Women have their role...

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9th January 2017
Martin Reeves – Interim CEO of WMCA endorses the group

Martin Reeves –Interim CEO of WMCA endorses the group as the “go to group for women’s voice”. At this second meeting, hosted by DLAPiper, 40 women came together to listen and in turn express their views. There was a promise that the Commissions will actively...

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12th September 2016
Inaugural Meeting

A diverse group of powerful women met with Insider Magazine at John Lewis community room to discuss the merits of forming a group to represent the voice of women across the West Midlands geography in light of the formation of WMCA. The discussion being prompted by the overwhelming...

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Support for WMWV

WMWV is celebrating its first anniversary. From inception there was agreement for the need to increase the visibility of women at the top table of devolution. Our ambition is to be connected, authentic, collaborative and compelling. This is what others are saying about WMWV:

Birmingham Chamber

Ensuring all citizens can have their voice heard is an essential part of any effective democratic institution. West Midlands Women’s Voice is providing a strong platform for women in the region to engage with and seek to influence The West Midlands Combined Authority.

Henrietta Brealey

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Coventry City Council

I have been fortunate to be involved in the West Midlands Women’s Voice network right from its inception. It was clear to me right from those early discussions that in order to establish a Combined Authority for our region which delivered a uniquely ambitious plan for economic growth and prosperity – it needed to be founded on an openness, inclusivity and diversity to reflect the population we serve.

Martin Reeves

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Women in Property

I think the combination of WIP and WMWV working together will make a real difference to raise awareness to the issues of diversity. Business needs to remember that diversity can be a competitive advantage and in many cases, a culture change is needed. By working together and creating this forum we can share experiences, understand what works/does not work and help people understand their options so we can find the best solution for everyone, reduce the stigma and develop a best practice.

Charlotte Bloomfield

Trafford Council

I am delighted to support and share my experiences of devolution in Greater Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse with the West Midlands Women’s Voice. This is a fantastic opportunity for the West Midlands and a life-changing moment for the combined authority and WMWV. The West Midlands stands at a moment of great economic potential and the integrated and joined-up approach of the WMWV to growth and social reform will undoubtedly help realise this potential.

Theresa Grant

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UpRising

UpRising is a UK-wide youth leadership development organisation and is recognised as a pioneering charity championing the important issues surrounding social mobility, diversity and inclusivity. Our mission is to open pathways to power and employment for talented young people aged 16-25 from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. Initiatives like West Midlands Women's are a fantastic way of ensuring the community voices are listened to by those positions of power. We pleased to support the important mission of West Midland’s Women’s Voice.

Mikayla Jones | Birmingham Senior Programme Manager

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West Midlands Combined Authority

As Mayor, I want to create an equal, fairer and more inclusive society where our future plans advance life for all. The WMCA has made equality a priority, with Deborah Cadman as our new CEO and female directors of Strategy, Transport and Skills. However, more needs to be done. I want to understand, and unravel the barriers which currently exist to can create more a representative leadership, not just in the WMCA, but across the West Midlands.

Andy Street | Mayor of the West Midlands

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Supported by

West Midlands Combined Authority
DLA Piper
Fleetmilne Property
Adducere
Simkiss Guy
Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Sponsorship

Donations