International Women’s Day.

Since 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) has been an annual celebration of women’s achievements, aimed to promote action towards gender parity. Although the global holiday is celebrated on March 8th, the theme continues to be recognised all year long. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity.

#EmbraceEquity

Achieving an inclusive world, free of bias and discrimination, is not only a women’s fight. It is essential that everyone understands the difference between equity and equality. Equality is when every individual or group is given the same opportunity or resources. Equity describes giving each individual or group what they need to be successful and recognises that no person is the same. Through equity, we can reach equality.

It has been a turbulent year for women’s rights, from the Taliban’s rule against Afghan women and girls from attending school and university to the widespread female-led protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. These stories only remind us that we have far to go in the struggle for gender equality.

Women in Social Enterprises

Since 2021, Social Enterprise UK has partnered with the University of Westminster to promote gender parity through workshops, employment and support. With nearly 47% of social enterprises led by women and more than half of the social enterprise workforce occupied by women, social enterprises are paving the way to a more gender-equal world. 

Check out a few of the amazing female-led social enterprises in the UK below:

Pivot - founded by Alice Moxley FRSA

Pivot is a sustainable jewellery company, dedicated to supporting homeless people in pivoting their lives through making and enterprise. Alice Moxley began Pivot in 2020 and has since been featured on the WISE100 Top Women in Social Enterprise list.

The Umbrella Cafe - founded by Joanna Verney

The Umbrella Cafe is a community cafe in Whitstable, Kent. Joanna Verney started the ‘pay what you can’ cafe in 2015 to create a welcoming space and minimise feelings of social isolation and loneliness. The cafe also works to reduce food poverty and waste in the local area.

Miss Macaroon - founded by Rosie Ginday MBE

Since 2011, Rosie Ginday MBE has grown Miss Macaroon into a prospering social enterprise based in Birmingham. The business reinvests 100% of its profits into helping unemployed young people to build the confidence and skills to create their own careers.

At NEMI Teas, we are proud to have a 50%+ female workforce.

Within the tea industry, women make up the majority of tea pickers and farmers in most countries, but they are often underrepresented at senior management levels and face considerable inequality because of their gender. We source our tea from Fairtrade-certified farms to ensure that our workers are treated and paid fairly and equally.

Check out the International Women’s Day website to find out all of the ways you can get involved in this historic day. IWD provides an opportunity to recognise the inequalities that exist, stand up for women’s rights, celebrate women’s achievements and finally, #EmbraceEquity.