Founder of Neo Walk, Lyndsay Mitcheson, is among a dedicated group of advocates, entrepreneurs, and researchers striving to eliminate barriers in York and North Yorkshire for female-led businesses. Neo Walk, a walking stick company, is one of many examples of successful female entrepreneurship in the region.

However, the landscape for entrepreneurship in York and North Yorkshire is not even. The region reports over 23,000 fewer women than men are self-employed, and men continue to be almost twice as likely to be self-employed. The investment gap is also concerning, with female-led organizations raising only £62,000 of equity in contrast with £3.8 million raised by male-led counterparts.

These striking statistics stem from a report shedding light on the enduring obstacles female entrepreneurs in York and North Yorkshire face. To address these systemic challenges, a group of researchers, advocates, and entrepreneurs – guided by the University of York’s business support community, Enterprise Works – has taken initiative. The research for the report was directly sourced from local female entrepreneurs, to ensure it genuinely represented their experiences.

Lyndsay Mitcheson is among these entrepreneurs. After losing her leg in 2010 due to a severe MRSA infection, she was compelled to start Neo Walk. Dissatisfied with the grey, flowery offerings of walking sticks on the market, she created her own. This colorful, acrylic walking stick not only met her needs but garnered attention and compliments from passersby. This positive shift in conversation from her disability to her unique walking stick was the motivation behind Neo Walk.

Neo Walk offers a range of custom walking sticks in an array of colours and patterns.

Today, Neo Walk is a flourishing business based in North Yorkshire that offers custom walking sticks in a variety of colors and patterns, shipping worldwide. Despite her success, Mitcheson’s entrepreneurial journey was far from easy. Overcoming imposter syndrome, being taken seriously as a disabled female entrepreneur, and accessing financial resources were significant challenges in her path.

Female entrepreneurs often express similar sentiments, citing lack of mentorship access and the mental strain of juggling business responsibilities with daily life commitments. However, the report suggests if these obstacles were removed, it could result in up to 165,000 new jobs and an additional £2.6 billion in GVA in the region. Furthermore, an astounding £250 billion of new revenue could be realized UK-wide if women were to start and scale businesses at the same rate as men.

Andrea Morrison, an entrepreneur and the regional chair for the Federation of Small Businesses for Yorkshire, the Humber and North East England, is a strong advocate for these potential gains. With the backing of her colleagues, Morrison approached the University of York to conduct more in-depth research into the issue. The resulting partnership and report have triggered a wave of collective action with various regional business support providers and national banks, and attracted the support of local entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Neo Walk’s sticks are made to order and fully customisable.

Looking forward, the team plans to publish a 10-point plan outlining the next steps. Already, the findings have influenced changes in business support provision, focusing on keyareas outlined in the report: mentorship and access to finance among them. “It’s clear we’ve reached a tipping point,” asserts Professor Kiran Trehan, pro-vice-chancellor for enterprise partnerships and engagement at the University of York. “There’s no denying the enormous economic value that female-led enterprise brings, both regionally and nationally.”

For Mitcheson, the journey to empowering female entrepreneurship needs to begin at an early stage. “We need to tell these young girls that they can be entrepreneurs, designers, and they can aspire for the top jobs,” she asserts.

Main image: Joanne Crawford

The facts:

165,000

The number of jobs to be gained by removing barriers to female entrepreneurship in York and North Yorkshire

£2.6 bn

The amount of GVA – gross value added – the region could add