Tara Askham, a finance lecturer, author and entrepreneur, has been appointed to the steering committee for the Maple Review.

The Maple Review is a government-backed independent review led by Small Business Britain and supported by Xero. It is focused on tackling the barriers that economic deprivation creates for UK entrepreneurs.

Askham, who built her career from a working-class background in Nottingham, first became involved with the Maple Review after being invited to share her experiences at the House of Lords earlier this year.