A CALL from Margaret Hodge, the former Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, for 1,000 female entrepreneurs across the UK to help and inspire more women to set up their own businesses has paid dividends.

Georgiana Head, who lives in Ilkley and is the founder of Georgiana Head Recruitment Ltd (a recruitment company that specialises in recruiting taxation professionals) has become an ambassador for the initiative.

Georgiana is one of more than 100 businesswomen from across the region to be nominated as ambassadors' by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

The ambassadors' will be working with the Task Force for Women's Enterprise and will focus on key stages of women's lives, including younger women, women who have just had children and are taking stock of their future work plans, and women whose children may have left home.

Leeds-based Georgiana Head Recruitment is currently made up of a three-strong team of former tax professionals who have moved into recruitment.

Before setting up the business, Georgiana trained in tax accountancy with Price Waterhouse before moving into recruitment in 1997. Clients include the Big Four accountancy firms, plus the top 20 accountancy firms, leading legal practices and a wide spread of FTSE companies, banking institutions and Plcs.

A longstanding member of Forward Ladies (the North's leading women's networking and business support group) Georgiana has also been nominated for an Institute of Directors award.

She said: "The ambassadors' programme is a great idea that will really benefit women entrepreneurs. Having set up my business just over a year ago, I know how important it is to have help and support in the early stages of growth."