Cally Robson spotted a gap in support for women who are promoting and developing a new invention or product idea.

Cally launched She’s Ingenious, an online club for women developing new product ideas and inventions, in 2003, with a website relaunch in 2009. More than a decade on, her observations about childcare, networking and grassroots funding still resonate with women innovators across the UK.

Women remain under-represented in UK innovation. According to the Intellectual Property Office, fewer than one in five UK patent applications include a woman inventor, and female founders still receive a minority of equity investment. Programmes such as Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation awards, the British Library’s Business & IP Centres and local Growth Hubs are now working to close that gap, but many of the barriers Cally identified persist.

In this updated profile, Cally reflects on the highs and lows of self-employment and shares practical advice for women thinking about turning an idea into a business.

What does your business do?

She’s Ingenious is an online club that supports women who are developing new product ideas and inventions. It offers a space to share experiences, find practical guidance and connect with others who understand the particular challenges of bringing an invention to market.

When did you start your business?

I started the business in 2003 and relaunched the website in 2009.

What motivated you to become self-employed?

I wanted to build my own business on my own terms and have flexibility around family life. Like many women, I was looking for a way to do meaningful work while still being present for my children.

Have you used any business support services?

Yes. The resources at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre were helpful, especially for research, intellectual property and market information.

When I first looked for support in 2004, Business Link was less useful, although it improved over time. Business Link closed in 2013 and its functions were absorbed into GOV.UK business support and local Growth Hubs. Today, women inventors can also turn to Innovate UK, the Intellectual Property Office and the Women in Innovation programme.

Advice from my local council tried to help, but was often better suited to SMEs with five or more employees than to a sole trader or micro-business working from home. If you are at the ideas stage, look for support aimed specifically at inventors, start-ups and micro-businesses rather than general business advice.

Your local Growth Hub can signpost you to mentoring, grant schemes and events, while the Intellectual Property Office offers free guidance on patents, trade marks and designs. If you need legal or commercial advice, many universities and business schools also run free or low-cost clinics for start-ups.

What are the highlights of being self-employed?

Every day is different. I am in charge of my own success, and I feel I am doing something worthwhile. Overcoming each challenge makes me more confident and wiser.

What difficulties have you faced?

Most networking that is not set up specifically for women is not good for working mums: the timings are wrong and the whole atmosphere can feel wrong. Thankfully, there are now many more women’s business networks than there were when I started.

Online communities, LinkedIn groups and women-in-STEM networks can be a lifeline when evening events are impossible, and many now offer daytime sessions or recorded content so you can learn without arranging childcare.

There is still very little microfunding for women start-ups at grassroots level, unless you happen to be in an officially deprived postcode. Funding and managing childcare remain major issues.

Today, options such as Start Up Loans, crowdfunding, and female-focused angel networks are more visible, but early-stage inventors still struggle to find small amounts of seed funding that do not require giving away large equity stakes or spending months on applications.

Have you experienced disadvantages because you are female?

Only because I am a mum and juggling the two things is difficult. Childcare is a particular issue — both the cost and the inflexibility of it. In 2024, full-time nursery care in the UK can cost around £300 per week, and school-hour provision rarely matches the reality of running a business.

Have you experienced advantages because you are female?

Yes. There are lots of us starting and growing businesses, and that is encouraging. The rise of women-focused networks, awards and funding streams means it is easier to find peers who understand the specific pressures women founders face.

What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting a business?

Before you jump in, put a plan together and find out as much as you can from others who have done it already. Talk to people who have brought a product to market, join a network of women inventors and use free resources such as the British Library Business & IP Centre to research your idea.

But do not wait until you know everything before you start — action is the key thing. Do not think that starting your own business will instantly solve your financial worries. It takes time to set up and make it happen, so build a financial cushion and be realistic about how long it may take to earn a steady income.

Account for the other things happening in your life: you do not have to be a superwoman and try to do it all. Set boundaries, ask for help and remember that building a business is a marathon, not a sprint.

Where to find support today

If you are a woman with an invention or product idea, start with free, impartial advice from the British Library Business & IP Centre or your local Growth Hub. For funding and mentoring, look at Innovate UK Women in Innovation, Start Up Loans and sector-specific grants.

Cally’s work with She’s Ingenious helped shine a light on a community that is still under-represented in UK innovation. Start small, protect your intellectual property early, and keep connecting with other women who are on the same journey. The invention ecosystem is changing, but it still needs more female voices — and more organisations willing to back them.