A delegation of 15 female tech entrepreneurs visited Leeds to discuss investment opportunities.
Supported by the Department of Business & Trade, FinTech North and the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s office, the three-day trip was facilitated by national law firm Mills & Reeve.
Desislava Miteva, executive director at the British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, said: “We like to explore opportunities outside of London because there is a lot of good business going on outside the capital.
“We’ve found it’s actually easier to strike collaborations with organisations in this region. If you want to build sustainable, long-term international partnerships, regional ecosystems such as Yorkshire are ideal destinations.”
Mills & Reeve hosted several events and introduced the delegation to a variety of key organisations and individuals in the region.
The packed itinerary included:
- FinTech North event attendance
- Networking sessions at Barclays Eagle Lab
- Roundtable discussions with Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) director Sharon Jandu OBE and fundraising expert Charlotte Scott of The New Monday
Maria Sivkova, owner and MD of Conversion Century and one of the delegates, said: “We have several clients from the UK, and most are based in London but operate in Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham.
“We’ve seen how they’re finding great opportunities in these regional cities – even better opportunities than in London.
“The visit gave us an important opportunity to meet advisors, investors and fellow business founders who particularly want to support female leaders grow and succeed in what can be a male-dominated sector.
“It’s clear that Yorkshire is very advanced in this area, and we’ve taken away some great new opportunities and contacts.”
Alex Beardsley, community and operations lead at The Lifted Project, said: “The visit aligned perfectly with our mission of supporting high-growth women-led businesses.
“Seeing an all-women delegation of ambitious tech leaders here in Leeds was inspiring – proof that women are not just part of the conversation, but leading it.
“The visit has been hugely valuable not only in giving the delegation direct access to our networks and knowledge, but also in strengthening international ties.”
Looking beyond London
Sharon Jandu OBE, FSB director and non-exec director for the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, added: “There’s a tendency for international delegations to default to London, but when they come to the regions, businesses find it easier to stand out and build meaningful connections.
“In Yorkshire, we’re welcoming to business, the support available is substantial, and the resources are excellent. I’m delighted the delegation chose Leeds, this is exactly the kind of international engagement that demonstrates the strength of the Northern Powerhouse.”
Alex Newman, partner at Mills & Reeve, said: “We’re committed to supporting the Yorkshire region and showcasing its fantastic qualities and potential on an international scale, particularly for female leaders in sectors such as tech; so, we were delighted to facilitate this successful visit.”