Projects focus on supporting local enterprise, working with inspired individuals who want to network with likeminded women and learn practical skills which will help them improve and grow their businesses.

The programme, first launched in late 2014, focuses on digital skills by capitalising on the roll out of superfast broadband to help individuals to start, improve and expand their businesses. Since the programme launched, a range of projects have helped women in businesses in a variety of sectors - ranging from personal training to catering to personalised stationary printers.

It is now active in 19 local authority areas across the UK. Key to the scheme is a network of over 150 mentors and ambassadors - women who volunteer their time and experience to support others to achieve their business goals through building their online presence and awareness.

The bigger picture

The Women and Broadband Challenge Fund was launched to develop activity that encourages women-led businesses or potential female entrepreneurs to take advantage of superfast broadband to expand or set up new businesses, including home-based businesses. The Women's Business Council findings and recommendations on enterprise estimates that there could be an extra one million female entrepreneurs in the UK if women had the confidence and support to start businesses at the same rate as men.

Many women report barriers to setting up or growing their businesses, such as lack of perceived skills, or a fear of failure. The Women and Broadband Programme provides a supportive environment in which women can develop and grow the skills they need to succeed.

Impact so far        

  • 2,500 women have attended events
  • 900 women-led businesses have taken part in the programme
  • 2,000 female entrepreneurs including 490 start-up companies have received digital skills training
  • 1 million pledged as part of the initial funding. A further £1.1 million pledged in 2015

Case study        

Entrepreneur, Linda Forward of The Crazy Light Company

Lin has been running The Crazy Light Company since 2013 after feeling there was a gap in the market for practical, affordable and fun LED accessories for both people and their pets.

Spurred on by her son's suggestion that she would never see the project through, Lin originally applied for a new product pitch process through a major pet supplier and after being selected, and receiving a very warm reception to her idea, persevered with the idea of developing the product. What followed was a year of working with manufacturers in the East where she created a new LED system which could be sown onto fabric and was completely pet friendly. These lights formed the basis of both the dog jackets, bags and welly lights Lin now creates.

Having founded the company at the age of 45 Lin didn't want to be placed at a disadvantage due to gaps in her knowledge of technology and the benefits of social media. Based in rural Hertfordshire, Lin used the Fastshire programme to improve her social presence and digital knowledge while networking with other enthusiastic local business women. Despite the fact that her products are now stocked nationwide Lin continues to have a day-to-day involvement in all three aspects of her company, selling them outside of wholesale through her website and at events such as Glastonbury and Car Fest through the year.

With this fast business growth Lin has used Fastshire to gain support for her business from a group of likeminded individuals and continues to use the Women and Broadband scheme to hone her business skills. A great demonstration of someone who had an idea and thanks to determination and desire was able to make it a reality.

Mentor - Pascal Fintioni. Be Digital - Northumberland

Pascal is part of a three strong team who, with the support of a dedicated project team, help to deliver a tailored Women and Broadband scheme to around 20 women running businesses in Northumberland and the surrounding area.

With over ten years' experience in the delivery of these types of programmes, and a background in marketing, he is able over a six month period to assist the women enrolled on the scheme to learn huge amounts about how and where they can improve their business and achieve success.

Designed as a supportive but relatively intense programme, the women are asked to commit Tuesdays over a six month period, with the idea that after this initial training the women will be in a better position to move forward individually but will also have grown a ready-made group of like-minded contacts who can continue to support each other outside of the scheme.

With businesses ranging from an exclusive estate agent to an online art dealer, the individuals Pascal and his colleagues work with are a far cry from the traditional businesses that might be associated with female start-ups and Pascal is proud to highlight the breadth of participants who apply for the scheme.

Four key elements, spaced over the months of training, combine sessions including interactive masterclasses, meet-ups and co-working, one-to-one mentoring and online masterminding discussions, each designed to build on the women's existing skills and inspire them to use the digital skills learnt to grow their own individual business.

So far, Be Digital - Northumberland has been received incredibly positively in the local area with oversubscription for the scheme demonstrating the real thirst for guidance and expertise by local female entrepreneurs trying to succeed in the business world.

Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan said: "Across the UK today, over one million small and medium enterprises in the UK are being led by women and as more and more women take the leap into establishing their own businesses and fulfilling their entrepreneurial ambitions it is vital we support them as much as we can.

"The Women and Broadband fund allows for ground roots support at a local level, offering realistic and practical solutions to business mentoring built by local councils, in a way they know women in their area will benefit most.

"After the initial launch in 2014 we have invested a further £1.1 million to help women improve their digital skills and provide women with valuable advice and expertise when they start out."

Parliamentary under secretary of state for women, equalities and family justice Caroline Dinenage said: "Every woman who runs their own business should be celebrated and supported. Having run a business for 20 years, this is something I am passionate about and I wholeheartedly support.

"Britain is ranked one of the top three places in the world for female entrepreneurs and we have over one million female led small to medium businesses. But we know there is even greater potential out there, which is why we launched the Women and Broadband schemes across the UK to inspire and support business women."