THE founder of a national women’s business support organisation has been awarded an OBE.
Etta Cohen, who moved to Leeds from Dublin in the late 1950s and went on to found Forward Ladies, has been awarded the honour for services to women in business, and entrepreneurship.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic about the award,” she said. “I’m not quite sure when the ceremony will be. I’m an Irish national, so in actual fact we have to wait for permission from the Irish state before I can accept the OBE. But I’m very much looking forward to having tea at Buckingham Palace.”
Etta remains, not only proud of her pioneering business Forward Ladies — which she founded in 2000 — but also passionate about its ethos. “It began with just five of us sitting around having lunch in Leeds. And from that it has grown into an organisation of 13,000 people.
"It started off as a loose organisation and steadily grew through networking. It’s all based on the fact that we wanted women in business to be taken seriously, and not patronised or overlooked. However, we realised that his isn’t just a one-sided situation — women need to believe in themselves as well.
“I’ve now passed the business on, but still believe in one of the central tenets of the organisation — that business everywhere would benefit by having more women involved.”
She added: “When I started Forward Ladies, I wanted to make a positive contribution to support women in business and allow them to be more confident through knowledge, contacts, support and friendship. So I share my OBE with each and every woman and hope it will encourage them to believe and to follow their dreams. It is truly a great honour.”
Etta sold Forward Lassies in April 2014, but she hasn’t turned her back on business enterprises. “I’ve combined my love of afternoon with internet technology, and have come up with my latest venture — a website called Scones, Jam & Cream.”
The business is an online review platform created for people who not only want to find a great location for afternoon tea, but can also submit a review of their chosen destination. Members can also sign up to take advantage of offers and savings from featured establishments across the world or submit their own blog post of a special experience.
So the afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace will need to be up to scratch for Etta’s visit — otherwise Scones, Jam & Cream will likely know all about it.
