A new conference aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs will launch in Birmingham this November. The IGNITE conference, organised by The 51% Club, will take place on Friday 15 November at STEAMhouse and is designed to inspire and equip women business leaders with the tools they need to grow their ventures and contribute to the economic growth of the West Midlands.
The region has gained recognition for its vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, with women making significant strides in business. A 2022 study by The Gender Index revealed that over 17% of the 363,212 active companies in the West Midlands are women-led, placing the region third in the UK for female entrepreneurship. Furthermore, The Rose Review into female entrepreneurship noted a sharp rise in the number of businesses started by women in the area, from just over 4,000 in 2018 to nearly 14,000 by 2022.
However, recent government research highlighted a troubling trend, with the number of female business owners declining significantly. The 2023 annual survey found that only 15% of businesses were owned or led by women, down from 18% the previous year. This drop represents 43,000 fewer women in leadership roles, a concerning development after four years of progress.
IGNITE aims to counter this decline by offering a day dedicated to growth and empowerment for female founders. The conference will feature an array of workshops, networking sessions, and motivational talks, helping attendees to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to scale their businesses and restore momentum for female entrepreneurship in the region.
The event will be headlined by BAFTA-winning TV presenter and certified Success & Confidence Coach, Katy Hill. Hill will deliver the keynote address, sharing her personal journey of resilience and inspiring participants with her “face the fear and do it anyway” philosophy, developed after overcoming a serious head injury in 2019.
In addition to the keynote, IGNITE will offer a series of expert-led sessions on topics such as scaling businesses, securing investment, and maintaining work-life balance to prevent burnout. Practical masterclasses will delve into the role of emerging technologies, such as Generative AI in customer acquisition, and will guide attendees on how to build a personal brand for business growth.
Prominent industry figures will be speaking at the conference, including Dr Stella Peace, the newly appointed CEO of Innovate UK, and Scarlett Allen-Horton, the BBC Apprentice finalist who now leads the successful recruitment firm Harper Fox Search Partners. Jo Bird, a branding expert who has worked with major names like Gymshark and Lounge, will also share her expertise on building a strong personal brand.
Attendees will have ample opportunities to network, with representatives from businesses such as Lloyds Bank, Gowling WLG, and Midven in attendance to offer advice and foster connections. The conference is expected to provide a collaborative space for female entrepreneurs to share experiences, build valuable relationships, and take steps towards scaling their businesses.
Tickets for the IGNITE conference are available now, with full details and the agenda available on The 51% Club’s website.
