Chief executive of Liverpool social enterprise The Women’s Organisation is to address an event on ‘entrepreneurial diversity’

Leading Liverpool business figure Maggie O’Carroll will be in Scotland on Tuesday to speak at the Scottish Entrepreneurship Research Seminar 2022.

Taking place at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, the theme of the one-day event is ‘Entrepreneurial diversity as a Force for Good’. It will focus on the latest theories and practices from experts in the field.

The Scottish Entrepreneurship Research Seminar is an annual event organised by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. It aims to showcase the latest trends and issues of contemporary relevance for Entrepreneurship academia, policy and practice.

Maggie O’Carroll offers considerable expertise in the area of diversity in entrepreneurship. For more than two decades The Women’s Organisation has helped thousands of women overcome the barriers to self-employment.

In May last year she said the power of “diverse entrepreneurship” was key to post-pandemic recovery and called for urgent Government action.

Maggie quoted research from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). It has been monitoring levels of entrepreneurship since 1999. It said new enterprises are being harnessed as a key driver in a sustainable, purpose-driven economic recovery. 

Yet it also revealed that despite positive trends for women and black and racial minority communities over previous years, recent levels of diversity in entrepreneurial activity have significantly decreased. 

Maggie added the UK risks losing momentum in its post-COVID-19 recovery by not actively encouraging greater diversity in entrepreneurship.

“In order to build back better post-COVID we must ensure the power of diverse entrepreneurship is truly harnessed. This will enable businesses to thrive and better serve and support local communities,” she said.