New computer game boosts entrepreneurial spirit in schoolgirls

24/08/2006

"Less than 12 per cent of UK businesses are wholly owned by women, compared with 44 per cent owned by men. The West Midlands, in particular, is one of the poorest performing regions for women entrepreneurs. Our job is to foster women's talents in the region and help them make their mark."

WBDA's Deputy Director, Marla Nelson, said My Chemist has been designed to inspire more girls to set up their own businesses in science, engineering and technology:

"Many women in their teens and twenties are studying these subjects up to PhD level but, compared to boys, are then falling away. We hope the game will give them an early taste for entrepreneurship and help them fulfil their potential."

Players are set a series of missions such as business planning, market research and product development.

"One scenario they might face is responding to a spell of hot weather where they have to invest in and make their own sun cream in the virtual lab," Marla added.

"Less than 12 per cent of UK businesses are wholly owned by women, compared with 44 per cent owned by men. The West Midlands, in particular, is one of the poorest performing regions for women entrepreneurs. Our job is to foster women's talents in the region and help them make their mark."

Welcoming the launch of the project, NESTA chief executive, Jonathan Kestenbaum, said:

"If the UK is to compete in a high-tech global economy, we need innovative approaches to teaching that encourage school children to capitalise on their scientific and entrepreneurial potential in later life. Initiatives such as My Chemist can only help to bolster this aim."

WBDA's enterprise-education package has been designed to provide girls with the creative space required to develop their own ideas and provide opportunities to discuss ideas with their peers. The goal is to foster enterprising mindsets and unleash untapped enterprise spirit amongst girls. Teachers' lesson plans have been developed to sit alongside the game to provide the girls with the important theoretical application of running and managing a business.

Background

There are the same numbers of women as men taking science qualifications. However, the UK has a lack of female scientists and innovators setting up their own businesses, key challenges facing the economy in the 21st Century. WBDA believe as many women as possible should be encouraged into running their own high-growth businesses in order to maximise the wealth creation potential of the nation.

My Chemist is one of many innovative new products and services being developed by the Women's Business Development Agency as part of the newly launched Regional Women's Enterprise Unit (RWEU); part funded by Advantage West Midlands, the DTI's Small Business Service, the European Social Fund and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and The Arts (NESTA).

The RWEU is a pilot scheme aimed at increasing the number of women starting up, and considering starting up, a business in the region. The programme is the first of its kind in the UK and is modelled on a pioneering project based in the United States.

In 2004 women accounted for 18.7% of SET employees. If current trends continue only 25% of women who graduate in a SET discipline will enter SET employment in 2007/08.

WBDA's My Chemist Enterprise Education Package is about igniting an interest and excitement about SET based enterprise amongst young girls; to increase participation and position of women in SET in the future; dispel stereotypical images of SET based careers; and ultimately; address the SET based gender-imbalance.

Only 27% of self-employed people in the UK are women. If women started businesses at the same rate as men, we would have 150,000 extra start-ups a year. If the UK could achieve the same levels of female entrepreneurship as the US, Britain would gain ¾ of a million more businesses.

Sparking an interest in enterprise amongst young girls is vital to allow us to achieve this and WBDA are actively working towards making a positive difference towards reducing the SET gender-enterprise gap.

Using the My Chemist computer game as an educational tool, girls will develop understanding on a range of enterprise related topics - bringing theoretical knowledge to life by offering a realistic perspective on running a business.

For more information about WBDA and their range of free services to help and support women who want start and/or grow their own businesses, please call 02476 236 111 or see their website.

About NESTA

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) is working to transform the UK 's capacity for innovation. Our endowed funds of over £300m allows us to be a genuine risk-funder, to take a longer-term view and invest in the most promising new ideas and ventures. Underpinning our work is the fundamental view that successful innovation fuels long-term economic and social progress, and is an essential ingredient to the UK maintaining its competitive edge in the global market place.