A scheme that wants to drive more investment to female-led business in the North East has established a board of notable regional business leaders.
The Lifted Project intends to steer capital towards female-founded, high growth businesses and is a five-year project that is aligned with the Government's Investing in Women Code - a national effort to support female entrepreneurship. It is described as a data-driven approach, which uses regional insights to uncover latent high growth businesses.
Now, a Newcastle-based board has been created to steer the projects involvement in the region, alongside four other cities in Scotland and the North including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool . The board - led by chair, Debra Leeves and vice chair, Fozia Saleem - includes six sub-groups that will focus on finance, marketing and sign-posting, events for female entrepreneurs, role models, policy and angel investors.
Forming the group are Gill Hunter, managing partner of Square One Law; Emma Gaudern, CEO of EMG Solicitors Ltd; Rebecca MacDermid, investment manager at Maven Capital; Michelle Jones, founder of Kind Currency, and angel investor Shkun Chadda.
They are joined by Nina Walton, co-founder of Transforming Brands; Jenny Halford, sector development manager of fintech and digital at Business Durham; Chris Black, divisional director at Brewin Dolphin, and Jo Clough, director of regional development at Lloyds Banking Group. Also on the board is Wenyan Sharp, Ƶ marketing director at SolaX Power; Shaun Fooy, senior manager Ƶ network - North East England and Tees Valley at the British Business Bank; Dr Anupama Sethi, director of business development at Sterling Pharma Solutions, and Naomi Allen Seales, investment manager at Northstar Ventures.
The group is completed by Hannah Wade, managing director of CPI Enterprises; Marie Labus, CEO of AMLo Biosciences; Joanne Lant, CEO of Lant Medical; Marie Whitehouse, chief operating officer at NunaBio and Estelle Blanks, director of business development and enterprise at Newcastle University.
Jordan Dargue, an early stage investment connector who co-founded Lifted Ventures, said: "We are on a mission to establish the North East as the premier investment capital for women and ensure the region becomes a thriving hub for women's success. Newcastle and the wider North East region have a wealth of smart and talented women starting their own businesses or leading scale-up businesses, but when it comes to securing the funding they need, it’s evident that they do not receive as much as their male counterparts.
"This is an inequity that needs fixing for the benefit of the region and the economic growth of the Ƶ. The Newcastle regional board is passionate about making change happen but know that successful businesses are not built on passion alone. More support is needed and that’s exactly what The Lifted Project is looking to address.”
Ms Leeves added: "This board represents the very best of the North East business community. Together, we’re confident in creating a supportive environment for female-led businesses to thrive, allowing them to scale their businesses and achieve their full potential with the funding and support needed. The Lifted Project Newcastle board is poised to unlock a wave of innovation and economic growth, driven by the power of female leadership, and we’re excited to see what’s achieved.”
