BAFTA-winning TV presenter, Katy Hill, will headline the first IGNITE conference
IGNITE, a groundbreaking conference designed by The 51% Club to inspire and empower female entrepreneurs, is set to take place on Friday 15 November at STEAMhouse, Birmingham.
As the West Midlands continues to establish itself as a thriving hub for entrepreneurship, IGNITE aims to provide women in business with everything they need to scale and continue contributing to the region’s economic growth.
A recent (2022) study by The Gender Index found that the West Midlands ranks third in the UK for female entrepreneurship, with over 17% of the 363,212 active companies identified in the region being women-led. In the same year, The Rose Review into female entrepreneurship found that more than triple the number of businesses were started by women in the region, rising from 4,134 in 2018 to almost 14,000 in 2022.
However, last month Government research revealed a steep decline in the number of female business owners, reversing four years of progress. An annual survey found that only 15% of businesses were owned or led by women, down from 18% in 2022 and 19% in 2021. This decline equates to 43,000 fewer women owning or leading SMEs, using the Department for Business and Trade’s estimate of 1.44 million employers of this size. The last time the survey reported female entrepreneurship at this level was in 2019.
IGNITE aims to give a much-needed boost to the region’s female entrepreneurs, with a day dedicated to growth. The conference will feature an impressive line-up of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities, providing attendees with the tools and insights needed to scale their businesses and reverse the declining figures seen in the past two years since The Rose Review.
The conference will kick off with a keynote by renowned TV presenter and certified Success & Confidence Coach, Katy Hill. Her inspiring message will set the tone for the day, motivating attendees to embrace their potential and take bold steps towards success, inspired by her own “face the fear and do it anyway” attitude following a head injury in 2019.
Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts on topics such as scaling businesses, securing investment, and avoiding burnout. Hands-on masterclasses will provide practical advice and skills that can be applied to business challenges; from the power of GenAI in customer acquisition, to building a personal brand for business growth.
Other speakers at IGNITE include Dr Stella Peace, the new CEO of Innovate UK; Scarlett Allen-Horton, the BBC Apprentice contestant who founded Harper Fox Search Partners and counts Lord Alan Sugar as a business partner; and Jo Bird, a personal branding expert who’s worked for brands including Gymshark and Lounge.
IGNITE will also feature a vibrant networking atmosphere, allowing attendees to connect with fellow female founders, share experiences, and build valuable relationships. In addition to gaining advice from businesses in attendance, including Lloyds Bank, Mills & Reeve, Gowling WLG, Forvis Mazars, EAST VILLAGE. PR, and Midven, to name a few.
Tickets for IGNITE are on sale now. To see the full agenda, visit The 51% Club website.
