Join us for an inspiring and informative evening at the second Women in Enterprise Cross Party Group (CPG) of 2025 organised by Women's Enterprise Scotland in collaboration with the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The topic of this CPG session will be Allyship and will take place in person at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 14th May, 6.00-7.00pm. 

What is Allyship?

Allyship has been defined as a lifelong process of building and nurturing supportive relationships with underrepresented, marginalised, or discriminated individuals or groups with the aim of advancing inclusion.     

In the context of women’s enterprise, male allyship could help address some everyday issues such as women being talked over, sidelined or their views dismissed. Allyship could also help tackle persistent inequalities such as access to equity investment.

In this CPG the ABI will be sharing how they are using Allyship Awareness Training to help companies create a culture that is anti-bullying, anti-harassment and pro-speaking-up. We will then examine how this approach could be applied to improve the experiences of women-led businesses. For example, in 2023, our survey research found 66% of women-led businesses had experienced discrimination as a woman business owner and other studies have found women’s access to equity investment remains constrained at 2.5% on average over the past decade.

What to Expect

This session will feature expert insights, real life examples, and practical approaches for fostering allyship. It is an opportunity to expand your network, participate in open discussion, and meaningful engagement with others who are committed to creating more inclusive and respectful professional environments.

Why You Should Attend

By attending this CPG, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the role allyship plays in building safer, fairer business environments and why collective responsibility is key to systemic change. You’ll also connect with others from across sectors and industries who are equally passionate about inclusion and equity.

Bring an Ally!

We’re encouraging all attendees to bring along a male ally—someone who is open to listening, learning, and leading. Please note: all guests must be registered in advance, so if you're bringing someone along, be sure to include their details when registering. 

We hope to see you there!