Enterprising Women's founder joins Government Entrepreneurs Forum

Bev Hurley has joined the Rt. Hon. Dr. Vince Cable MP's Entrepreneurs' Forum.

She will add her voice and experience to a panel of high profile entrepreneurs, who advise the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on SME policy for the UK.

Other members of the Entrepreneurs' Forum include:

  • TV dragon James Caan,
  • Tim Campbell (the Apprentice who set up the Bright Ideas Trust),
  • Sahar Hashemi (Coffee Republic),
  • Wilfred Emmanuel Jones (The Black Farmer)
  • Dawn Gibbins (Flowcrete/The Barefoot Foundation), who said of Bev's joining the Forum:
"Bev is joining the Forum to help inform and change Government thinking; to be a voice for British Entrepreneurs and ignite transformation in our economy. I admire Bev greatly and welcome her to the team."

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones also welcomed Bev, saying: "As an entrepreneur committed to helping others to develop their businesses, Bev's experience and insight will be a valuable asset to the Forum."

Ms Hurley started her first business at the age of 25, growing three successful ventures before being appointed as CEO of YTKO, one of the UK's leading economic development and enterprise support companies, in 1999.

A holder of the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion and winner of a First Women Award for Business Services, Ms Hurley is the founder of Enterprising Women, a national community of more than 8,500 female entrepreneurs, and was responsible for creating the award-winning Norfolk Network, a dynamic innovation and enterprise hub for the knowledge economy, as well as creating YTKO's Outset business start-up and finance programme, which in the last year alone has helped to create more than 550 sustainable new businesses.

Speaking about her appointment to the Government's Entrepreneurs Forum, Ms Hurley commented: "The Entrepreneurs' Forum is a vital initiative that ensures that the role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth is not overlooked."

"I am looking forward to working with the Secretary of State, the Business Minister and colleagues on the forum panel, to take the voice of business to this high level forum and help develop effective policies that stimulate and support business creation and growth in the UK."