Cross-Party Group on Women in Enterprise: Procurement th Wednesday 16 November 2022 Held via Zoom Minute Present: Carolyn Currie, WES; Bronwen Thomas, WES; Sophie Rooney, WES; Lynne Cadenhead, WES; Evelyn Mcdonald, Scottish Edge; Ruth McElroy, FSB; Ann Johnson, Blaze Manufacturing Solutions; Kathleen Riach, University of Glasgow; Jackie Brierton, Growbiz; Pauline Macdonald, Marine Ferguson; Mairi Macdonald, Royal Bank of Scotland; Julie Hall, ABS MSPs: Collette Stevenson MSP, Gillian Martin MSP, Paul Mclennan MSP, Invited guests: Non-MSP group members: Apologies: Christina Scott, Rachel Cook, Julie, Grieve, Jane Grant, Kerry Hammond, Jackie Baillie MSP, Katy Clark MSP, Mandy Bailey, Michelle Thomson MSP Proceedings: Welcome and introductions, Convenor Gillian Martin MSP Gillian Martin passed to Secretary, Sophie Rooney, to convene AGM portion of meeting • 1st item election of a Convenor – Carolyn Currie proposed Gillian Martin MSP, Bronwen Thomas seconded • 2nd item election of Vice Convenor – Gillian Martin MSP proposed Michelle Thomson MSP, Ann Johnson seconded (Acceptance confirmed by Michelle Thomson following the meeting) • 3rd item election of a secretary – Bronwen Thomas proposed Sophie Rooney, Carolyn Currie seconded • 4th item election of Treasurer – Sophie Rooney proposed Carolyn Currie, Lynne Cadenhead seconded Secretary passed to Carolyn Currie to address global entrepreneurship week and women's Wednesday Carolyn Currie passed to Gillian Martin to introduce presentations Gillian introduced all speakers Ann Johnson from Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, Pauline Macdonald from Ferguson Marine and Ruth McElroy from FSB Gillian passes to Ann Johnson: • The way blaze win’s work is usually through reputation • Very male dominated world – isn’t aware of another female in it globally • Started to try bid for local authority contracts and the most time they’ve been given notice of a contract is 3 days • Blaze worked on the New...