South Yorkshire female entrepreneurs to receive government funded support

The Superfast South Yorkshire programme has secured a new government fund aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs.

The money is one of 16 Women Broadband Challenge Fund awards being announced today by Nicky Morgan, Minister for Women and Equalities.

Click South Yorkshire will pledge £67k to help women across South Yorkshire utilise superfast broadband to expand or develop their businesses.

This new funding is an addition to an existing scheme in the region - Enterprising Barnsley’s Click e-commerce accelerator programme, which has already seen 12 innovative business people, half of which are female, receive intensive support to grow and create jobs.

The Women and Broadband programme, funded by the Government Equalities Office, aims to help women start or grow their own business by getting them online and making new technology work for them.

The programme’s focus will be on female digital entrepreneurs and will include workshops, seminars and one to one support as well as networking events.

Natalie Ward, Broadband Programme Manager for Superfast South Yorkshire, said: “The scheme will offer women, who are able to access superfast broadband, the opportunity to maximise the business benefits available, whilst gaining digital skills through the use of new technology.

“This is an exciting opportunity for South Yorkshire women who are looking to start a business.”

The Click South Yorkshire programme hopes to support 100 women, living in the Superfast South Yorkshire broadband rollout areas, to develop, build and deliver an e-commerce business idea to the point where they are actively selling online.

It is led by Tracey Johnson and delivered through a partnership between Barnsley Council’s business growth team Enterprising Barnsley; Barnsley Digital Media Centre (DMC) and UK business start-up experts Enterprise Nation.

Tracey Johnson of Enterprising Barnsley and Barnsley Digital Media Centre said: “We are absolutely delighted with this announcement. The new funding will help us to develop digital skills within our communities, giving women the tools they need to build a successful business that fits their interests and lifestyle.”

The programme will be offered through online learning; face to face sessions at local venues across the region and the DMC; and through workshops seminars and networks led by successful local female business owners and ecommerce specialists.

Through the funding, the Digital Media Centre will also develop a Click Together network for women in digital business.

Emma Jones, founder of fast-growth small business network Enterprise Nation who will deliver Click South Yorkshire said: “Research has shown that women often need specific help to get their enterprises off the ground and then to grow.

“Yet despite a rapid growth in female entrepreneurship, they are still less likely to be accepted for finance or seek out that vital support. This new initiative will target women and help them to build digital skills to understand how they can use technology to help their businesses thrive.”