Laura Annie Willson Business Women

Episode 4: Laura Annie WillsonBorn in 1877 in Halifax, west Yorkshire, Laura Annie Willson grew up in poverty and started work at the age of ten, as a ‘half-timer’ in a local mill. Twice imprisoned for her political activities, she later became co-director of a highly successful engineering business, employing mostly women, and did much to improve working conditions. Laura Annie was a founder member of both the Women’s Engineering Society and the Electrical Association for Women. She designed and built hundreds of modern homes for working people, describing house-building as ‘a form of engineering of the domestic kind’. In 1928 she spoke of being at the start of a ‘golden age’ for women, especially those entering the business world. ‘Industry has become fascinating and profitable to women,’ she said, ‘and we want to play our full part in that new life.’Dear Listeners,Did you enjoy number 4 podcast in this series?We like to invite you to be part of our journey to tour an exhibition dedicated to inspiring women, who are making remarkable progress toward achieving equality.Become a Friend of the Project, and you will receive an exclusive invitation to the Women Change Makers Debut Show on May 29th, 2025, where we will highlight the incredible stories of these influential women.Your support is vital in helping us realise this vision, and we are truly grateful for any contributions you can offer. You can easily donate through platforms likeGoFundMe,where your generosity will directly enhance our efforts to share these powerful narratives with a broader audience.Thank you for your belief in the power of change! XXX