The Most Influential Women In UK Tech

Who are the most influential women in the UK tech industry? Computer Weekly has released its shortlist and unsurprisingly, it features many of our Members. In this week’s blog, we cover Computer Weekly’s 2020 Longlist of Influential Women in UK Tech, the Government’s plans to lift restrictions on businesses and updates to the Government's COVID-19 support schemes.

FEMALE FOUNDER HIGHLIGHTS

Here is a quick wrap up of this week’s news highlights, featuring some of our inspiring Members:

  • Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech: The 2020 Longlist has been released. Unsurprisingly, several of our Members have been shortlisted including Alex Depledge, Anne Boden, Debbie Wosskow, Emma Sinclair, Erika Brodnock, Faye Holland, June Angelides, Justine Roberts, Marta Krupinska, Tamara Lohan, Tania Boler, and Tugce Bulut

  • Our Member, Marta Krupińska hosted a Google for Startups UK session showcasing 10 innovative tech startups from across the UK. Marta was joined by public and private investors who spoke about the challenges and opportunities that building startups all around the UK can offer. You can watch the full session here

  • A new study by Streetbees, co-founded by our FFF Member Tugce Bulut uncovers what the British public really thinks about social distancing. You can read the article written by Tugce here

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

1. Lifting restrictions for businesses in the UK

The Government has outlined a plan to lift restrictions from 1 August, if the virus remains around or below current levels and COVID-19 Secure guidelines are followed by businesses and the public. The Government plans to:

  • Reopen most remaining leisure settings including bowling, skating rinks and casinos

  • Give employers more discretion on how they ensure employees can work safely 

  • Enable the restart of indoor performances to live audiences, pending the success of pilots

  • Enable all close contact services to resume including make-up application

  • Carry out pilots in venues with a range of crowd sizes including sport and business events

  • Enable wedding receptions with sit down meals for up to 30 people

  • Reopen schools, nurseries, and colleges for all children and young people

2. Face coverings at work

In last week’s blog, The Entrepreneurs Network covered how the mask mandate will help the UK’s high street. The Government has published guidance on face covering, the role in reducing transmission of COVID-19, and how they should be safely used and stored. This may be relevant to your business and you can read it here.

3. Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Restaurants and other eligible establishments serving food for on-premises consumption can register for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. In order to be eligible, the establishment should:

  • Sell food for immediate consumption on the premises

  • Provide its own dining area or share a dining area with another establishment

  • Have registered as a food business with the relevant local authority on or before 7 July 2020

Establishments who are taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme can use posters, images, and other promotional material here. Registration will close on 31 August 2020.
 
BARCLAYS SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES
 
1. Female Founders Forum 2020 Digital Events
 
In light of COVID-19, we have been busily re-invigorating our 2020 Female Founders Forum event schedule. This year, we will be hosting a series of Webinars on key policy issues pertinent to our female founders to help support them through COVID-19 and beyond. 
 
We are creating 7 virtual scale-up hubs for regions across the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff, Southampton and Edinburgh. The virtual scale-up hubs will bring together aspiring and established female founders through inspiring and engaging stories and content. 
 
We will keep you informed about the scale-up hubs and Webinars in our Newsletters. 
 
2. Barclays Coronavirus Support Hub

The Barclays COVID-19 Support Hub provides the latest information, tools, and guidance to support businesses throughout the coronavirus pandemic. This hub includes information about Barclays’ products, webinars, Facebook Live events, and more information on how to access government schemes. You can also download Barclays’ COVID-19 checklist to support your business resilience planning throughout this period. There is also an updated FAQ section on this hub.

3. Balancing the Books Facebook Live event

With businesses adjusting to the ‘new normal’, Barclays hosted a panel event to discuss what the knock-on effect could look like for businesses and customers alike and what support is available to mitigate the challenges that lie ahead. Calling on an expert panel, panelists discussed the management of cash flow, the impact this could have on the supply chain processes, and how to diminish late payments.  You can watch a recording of this Facebook Live event to learn more. 

4. Eagle Labs Virtual Events

Barclays’ programme of virtual events covers a range of topics from cashflow management to building resilience to help entrepreneurs and start-ups navigate these uncertain times. Forthcoming events include a session on thinking differently about social media marketing and an event to demystify AI, machine learning, and machine intelligence. All events are free to attend and open to anyone. For more information visit the Eagle Lab event page.