A Women in Tech & Investment Taskforce has launched in South Yorkshire following research showing that women hold 18% of technology roles and receive 10% of tech investment in the region.
The taskforce, established by regional digital economy programme TechSY alongside local partners, is backed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the British Business Bank, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology via Barnsley Council’s Tech Town initiative.
The initiative focuses on four operational areas: increasing the number of female founders starting and scaling technology companies, encouraging more women to become angel investors, supporting progression into leadership roles, and improving access to technology careers for girls and young women.
According to figures from TechSY, South Yorkshire’s technology ecosystem is valued at £3.7 billion, representing a fourfold increase since 2019. The taskforce will bring together existing regional support networks, including female founder support initiative The FoundHERy and an angel investor education programme delivered alongside Lifted Ventures.
In a related regional development, TechSY launched The FoundHERy, an eight-week pilot programme offering targeted mentoring, investor connections, and attendance at London Tech Week for female founders in South Yorkshire. This founder support framework serves as an operational component of the wider regional initiative to expand capital access for female-led technology businesses.
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: “South Yorkshire’s tech sector is growing fast, creating jobs, attracting investment and helping drive our economy forward. But we won’t unlock its full potential unless more women are able to build careers, start businesses and access the investment they need to grow, right here.”
Tracey Johnson, Programme Director at TechSY, commented: “This isn’t simply a diversity issue; it’s an economic opportunity and one we must address if we’re to unlock future tech growth,”
Helen Milner OBE, Taskforce Chair, said: “By bringing together employers, educators, investors and founders, we have an opportunity to create meaningful change and ensure more women can build successful careers and businesses in technology,”
Image source: TechSY
