Good Lord! Now bra queen is Cameron’s business guru
Bra boss’s new post before Lords appointment
SHE is the Scots entrepreneur who made her name selling underwear, f ake tan and slimming products.
All of which apparently makes Michelle Mone the ideal candidate to become a Government business guru – at least in the eyes of David Cameron.
The 43-year-old has been asked to carry out a review into obstacles to starting a business faced by people in disadvantaged areas, i ncluding benefit claimants, women, young and disabled people and ex-offenders. She will be asked to make recommendations next year.
The announcement follows reports earlier this month that the businesswoman is set to be made a Tory peer.
The news that she would be given a seat in the House of Lords was broken to Mone in a personal telephone call from the Prime Minister.
Mone has previously voiced her support for Mr Cameron and, as a backer of the No
‘No one better qualified’
campaign during last year’s independence referendum, was a target for the so-called cybernats.
Announcing her new role, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘ Entrepreneurship can play an important role in supporting economic growth and creating jobs in our most disadvantaged communities.
‘However, people living in those areas face a range of additional barriers they need to overcome in starting and growing businesses.
‘I am delighted that Michelle has agreed to lead this review. There’s no one I can think of that’s better qualified to help young entrepreneurs f rom deprived backgrounds to turn a good idea into a flourishing business.
‘We used to be known as a nation of shopkeepers. I want Michelle to report back to me on how we can encourage people of all backgrounds to take up this entrepreneurial spirit.’
Mone said: ‘My philosophy is that it does not matter where you are from, what education you have, or if you are from an affluent background or not, you can make it if you work hard, set goals and never give up.
‘I’ll be travelling across the UK to talk to and listen to people and groups from all backgrounds. I want to learn about the barriers they are facing and what changes are needed.
‘A truly modern and successful economy needs to be able to unleash the entrepreneurial energy or skills of everyone in society. It cannot tolerate a situation where people are held back from achieving dreams of working for themselves and creating jobs for others, simply because of where they are from, or because they have had a tough time growing up, or because they are a lone parent.’
Mone, who left school at 15, founded her Ultimo lingerie business in her 20s.
Described as a ‘serial designer and inventor’, she is also in demand as a speaker.
Mone, a mother- of- three, established her underwear business with the help of her then husband Michael in 1996.
But the couple split in 2011 and Mone later bought out his s hare of Ultimo’s parent company, MJM International, in a multi-million pound deal.
She has employed a long line of glamorous women to be the face and body of her firm, including former Spice Girl Mel B, Penny Lancaster, Sarah Harding and Rachel Hunter.
In 2004, Rod Stewart’s wife Miss Lancaster was famously replaced by his former spouse Rachel Hunter as the new face of the brand.
At t he t i me, t he r ocker branded Mone a ‘manipulative cow’.
Last year she was linked with Liz Hurley’s ex-fiancé, former Australian cricketer Shane Warne.