As the minister responsible for AI and digital government, I spend my days meeting the people building our future. The tech world is buzzing with innovation, but it’s no secret that it is dominated by 'tech bros'.
All too often, I walk into rooms where the majority of people talking about the future of technology are men. This government is determined to change that.
Labour is incredibly focused on harnessing the power of AI and digital transformation, as seen in the Prime Minister's AI Opportunities Action Plan. But for this transformation to benefit everyone, it must be built by everyone.
We cannot create a thriving, innovative digital economy if we leave 52% of the population behind. That is why we are placing the support for women-led SMEs as a key priority of our strategy.
The stark reality is that when it comes to raising funds, companies owned by women are consistently overlooked. They are not attracting the venture capital investment needed to scale their businesses. This isn't just unfair; it's terrible economics.
Imagine the transformation if investment in female-owned businesses even approached parity with their male-owned counterparts. Think of the new technologies, the new medicines, and the new solutions that would emerge to tackle issues that have been ignored for too long. That is why we are using government-backed programmes through Innovate UK to specifically support female-only businesses to succeed.
At London Tech Week, I met some of the most amazing brains in the industry - many of them women leading incredible companies. The talent is there. The ideas are there. The ambition is there. Our job is to dismantle the systemic barriers that hold them back.
This is a call to action. We need to actively foster networks, make connections, and ensure the next generation of companies that will transform our country have proper representation. As a government, we are creating the opportunities - the future of British tech depends on us all seizing them.
Feryal Clark, Member of Parliament for Enfield North, Minister for AI and Digital Government
