When I first became Chairman of Women Into Business (WIB) I started to look at the number of women's clubs that were in existence. I stopped when I reached 400 in just the London area !! It seemed to me to be a complete duplication of everything and many of the problems connected with clubs, i.e. memberships and in particular membership fees and getting fully attended conference were the same for all and many of the issues we were trying to address were the same. When I looked at trying to amalgamate all the clubs it became very clear that people were very protective of their clubs and thought I was just trying to steal their members - as if!!

So, back to the drawing board. As Women Into Business is mainly a lobbying group working with an all party group of MP's interested in business and women's issues it seemed to be sensible to ask the other clubs to become affiliated to WIB, thus keeping their own identity and members but becoming part of a really strong lobbying group where business women could really make a difference. I also felt that the WIB Conference would be a fantastic opportunity to network with people from other industries and businesses.

The first year we tried this only three groups became affiliated, the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (well they would wouldn't they being entrepreneurs!) the BFWIP and Women in Dentistry. Slowly more clubs have joined us and the conference before last where the issue on IR35 was raised by Pam Edwards and became our 'cause' as it particularly effected women as they tended to use 'outsourcing' and consultants more became our project, we linked up with the 'boys' and have seen it put to the back burner. This years conference brought another one out of the woodwork, (S660) again brought to our attention by Pam Edwards. - Well done Pam we'll take up the cudgels!

This year's conference, however, filled me with joy. I think, at last, the message is getting through. We had representatives from clubs in the Midlands, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. A huge response from people who had not only enjoyed the speakers but been able to network to their hearts content and made some very good business contacts and also seen the power and benefit that working together can bring.

Everywoman has joined us and said that they will put all the conference and club details from the different clubs onto their website. I strongly suggest you take a look at their website for further information on all different things to help women into business www.everywoman.com and I STRONGLY advice you to come to our conference next year because it is going to become bigger and better than ever. We are looking at making it later next year to give us more time to liaise with the other clubs for more involvement from them.

Don't forget to look out for the proposal form for the WIB awards 2004. This is the chance to nominate the club member you think has been the most successful during the year, remember there are different catagories so everyone will have a chance.

On a personal note, thank you most sincerely for the kind words sent on e-mails and the numerous telephone calls I received after the conference. It meant a great deal to me and made me feel my dream of filling the Albert Hall with business women is now becoming a reality

Settlements legislation - Income and Corporation Taxes Act Section 660A and following sections

Women into Business delegates were again the first to discover another taxation trap when Pamela Edwards (ACMA), Council Member for the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs raised the issue of S660A with the Parliamentary all Party Small Business representatives in forum at the Conference.

S660 is not the most gripping of headlines but one which every small family business should understand as in a number of recent cases the Revenue has sought to re-characterise a wife's dividend income from a small limited company as that of her husband, under Section 660A ICTA 1988.

Because this is a new application of Revenue policy (without benefit of tax bulletins or press releases) small business owners and their advisors may be unaware of the potentially large tax bills they may be exposed to as a possible result of back dating over several years, and accusations of tax avoidance. It is legally unprecedented and there must be doubt as to whether the Courts would support this approach.

The policy will be seen as an attack on a woman's right to own assets and receive income independently from her husband, and as a retreat from independent taxation.

The Revenue believe this approach is justified despite the concern of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Professional Contractors Group (www. www.pcg.org.uk) and the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (www.bawe-uk.org) who are in consultation with the Revenue. Any business owner concerned about their tax position is advised to consult their professional advisor or the author Pamela Edwards (ACMA), at PEdwards99@aol.com.

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