Despite facing unique challenges, female entrepreneurs are at the forefront of creating innovative solutions and spearheading sustainable development in York and North Yorkshire – according to the findings of a new report.
The report was a collaboration between Enterprise Works at the University of York, Federation of Small Businesses, Y-PERN (Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network) and mnAi.
Professor Kiran Trehan, PVC for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York and member of the Y-PERN Directorate, comments:
“We have reached a tipping point, where governments, business support organisations and female entrepreneurs themselves realise the enormous value of female enterprise to the regional and national economy. It is vital for the future success of the region that we have a clear, data-driven understanding of the needs of this community, to ensure that we maximise our, and their, chances of success and drive inclusive growth for all.”
A unique set of challenges
Female entrepreneurs face a set of key challenges and systemic and structural barriers that are adversely impacting their businesses. There are 23,562 fewer self-employed women than men in YNY, with men nearly twice as likely to be self-employed. According to mnAi data, in YNY, only £62k of equity was raised by female-led organisations, compared to £3.8m male-led organisations and £1.8m by those led by a mix of genders.
The report team therefore set out to investigate the myriad factors influencing female entrepreneurship, including the barriers they face, potential policy solutions and in upholding ecosystems that support their success.
Research informed by participant engagement
The team undertook fieldwork including community consultations that took the form of focus groups with female entrepreneurs; a survey with a specific focus on place-based challenges; and a participatory workshop focused on the core challenges.
Dr Rebecca Kerr, Y-PERN Policy Fellow based at the University of York and York St John University, was involved in the report and the design and delivery of the workshop. She comments:
“Research in this area generally exists at a national scale, but there’s clear demand for more place-based evidence which can inform sub-regional policy – as shown by the positive and enthused engagement from some of our region’s female entrepreneurs at the workshop we held at York’s historic Guildhall.
“Throughout the workshop, women noted that they wanted support and mentorship from other women in business. This sentiment was placed to the heart of this research undertaken, where each stage of research design was informed by participant engagement to ensure we were asking the right questions and collecting the most appropriate data.”
A roadmap to inclusive growth
The report outlines seven priority areas to better support existing and future female entrepreneurs across the region, including:
- Struggling with confidence
- Difficult pathways to self-employment
- Understanding and access to finance
- Understanding and investing in customer acquisition, retention and pricing
- Quality and availability of various forms of local infrastructure
- Quality and availability of mentorship
- Managing business administration
Ultimately, the report seeks to serve as a catalyst for change and present the foundation for a roadmap to more inclusive and prosperous growth across the region – with the recently installed York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) well placed to action the policy interventions highlighted. Indeed, Dr Kerr and members of the Y-PERN team worked closely with the YNYCA transition team and continue to do so, on issues such as inclusive growth, community engagement, education and poverty. Some of these themes will be explored further as Y-PERN’s flagship project YPIP (Yorkshire and Humber Policy Innovation Partnership) gets underway, which is engaging directly with community groups and aiming to create an Inclusive Business Network to drive inclusive growth across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Professor Trehan concludes: “We look forward to continuing our support for female entrepreneurs and fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial landscape where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
You can read the summary report here: New Era for Female entrepreneurship in York and North Yorkshire -Summary Report.pdf
