In celebration of International Women’s Day, manufacturing specialist Get It Made has unveiled its 2024 grant initiative, aimed at propelling the next generation of women in UK engineering to new heights. The program is designed to foster and support projects led by female-founded or female-led enterprises in the fields of engineering, design, technology, and manufacturing, including startups. The grant winner will receive valuable assistance from Get It Made’s manufacturing expertise to scale up production and advance their business endeavors.
This annual initiative, first introduced in 2022, is anticipated to draw applications from across the UK, reinforcing its commitment to supporting female entrepreneurship in traditionally male-dominated sectors. Applications are currently open and will be accepted until July 31, providing an opportunity for female-led engineering enterprises with fewer than 10 employees to vie for the £5,000 grant.
Stiliyana Minkovska, the 2023 grant recipient and founder/CEO of gynae health startup Matrix, emphasized the significance of grants like this in fostering innovation and providing a platform for FemTech innovators. She highlighted the pivotal role the grant played in advancing Matrix’s prototypes, enabling broader distribution to potential early adopters and users, including specialists from OBGYNs to nurses and GPs. Minkovska expressed gratitude for the support from Get It Made, emphasizing its role in moving their business closer to reality and contributing to women’s health on a global scale.
Luke Smoothy, the founder of Get It Made, underscored the company’s commitment to supporting female-driven innovation. By offering state-of-the-art manufacturing services, Get It Made aims to actively contribute to groundbreaking projects that can enhance efficiency and potentially save lives. Smoothy emphasized the practical steps taken to align with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” recognizing the need for increased action and engagement in driving gender parity and raising awareness about discrimination in the manufacturing sector.
The 2024 grant initiative from Get It Made stands as a testament to the company’s dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion within the engineering and manufacturing landscape. As female entrepreneurs continue to make strides in these traditionally male-dominated sectors, initiatives like these play a crucial role in providing support, encouragement, and a platform for their innovative endeavors.