Businesswomen of Hitchin braved the cold on Tuesday to stand together in Market Place to capture the achievements of local women running their own companies on film – and to inspire a future generation of young women and girls.

The event and short film was the brainwave of local businesswoman, Anisha Joshi, owner of the Woodside Clinic in Hitchin.

Anisha told the Comet: “I had an idea to create a film to celebrate the success of Hitchin businesswomen and to inspire young girls that they can do anything.

“The women in this film represent different stages and different decisions, they show that regardless, you can have it all.”

The gathering was filmed by Dean White and Jamie Partridge of White Partridge Media, as the final part of a short film being produced to celebrate local businesswomen in time for International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March.

International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women – with the day also marking a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

A spokesman for the day said: “Progress has slowed in many places across the world, so global action is needed to accelerate gender parity.

“In 2016 leaders across the world pledged to take action as champions of gender parity – not only for International Women’s Day, but for every day.

“As a result organisations and individuals supported the #PledgeForParity campaign and committed to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge bias, and call for gender-balanced leadership.

“However, the World Economic Forum has predicted the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186 – this is too long to wait. So around the world, International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity for ground breaking action that can truly drive greater change for women.

“Each one of us – women, men and non-binary people joining forces, can be a leader within our own spheres of influence by taking bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over. International Women’s Day, acts as a catalyst for change.”

Use the hashtag #BeBoldForChange.

You can see more here www.internationalwomensday.com.