News story: Get inspired by UK female innovators

Innovate UK’s infocus women in innovation exhibition will be at the Getty Gallery, London, from 18 to 28 July. Featuring profiles of female entrepreneurs, the exhibit will redefine what we see, feel and believe about innovation. Admission is free.

Inspiring the next generation

The exhibition aims to break down the barriers to women in innovation and present the next generation of female entrepreneurs with inspiring, relevant role models.

This follows research that:

• one in 3 female innovators believe their gender has negatively impacted their career
• the proportion of UK women engaged in entrepreneurial activity is around half the level of men
• if we can increase participation to the same level, women-led SMEs could contribute a £180 billion boost to the UK economy by 2025

During the exhibition there will be a workshop for 14 to 18-year-olds to meet and learn from female business leaders who are changing the world with their innovations. This is designed to get young women excited about innovation and empower them to come up with their own solutions.

Profiling the winners and finalists of women in innovation

Photos on display include winners and finalists of the women in innovation funding competition, who continue to receive support from Innovate UK, as well as ambassadors of the awards. Acclaimed photographer Amelia Troubridge took the images.

The women are drawn from a diverse background. They are pioneering new technologies and solutions across a wide range of industries, from the optimisation of cancer treatment, to the creation of sustainable alternatives to animal products, air-pollution and waste. The exhibition celebrates their differences and successes.

This activity is part of our infocus initiative to encourage diversity and challenge the disproportionately low numbers of women entrepreneurs in the UK.

Showcase leading and growing businesses

Dr. Ruth McKernan CBE, Chief Executive of Innovate UK, said:

Half of the world’s population are female. To consider how many of these talented women are held back from participating in entrepreneurial activity is deeply frustrating, particularly as research shows that harnessing the skills of women entrepreneurs could significantly enhance UK economic growth. More so, the participation of women in the innovation ecosystem is crucial to the development of work that will truly change the world.

We know that a key barrier to engaging women in this is the lack of female role models. So what better way to address this balance than to partner with Getty, and the amazing Amelia Troubridge, in order to showcase the women who are already leading and growing incredible businesses across the UK.

It’s an exciting opportunity to change what it looks like to be a female innovator in 2017, with the aim to inspire even more brilliant women to come forward with game-changing ideas.