Women in business in Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from a £1.1 million superfast broadband fund which aims to ‘end the gender pay gap’.

Women in business in Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from a £1.1 million superfast broadband fund which aims to ‘end the gender pay gap’.

The scheme was announced by the Chancellor in the budget this week as part of a nationwide government initiative and Cambridgeshire won a £49,390 share.

The aim of the scheme is to help women to take advantage of faster broadband to move their businesses online, expand or set up new ones.

The money will be used to deliver a series of workshops and roadshows and will promote the “connection voucher scheme” to increase the number of women-led business that could benefit.

The move follows findings from the Women’s Business Council showing that if women were setting up and running new businesses at the same rate as men, there could be up to one million more female entrepreneurs.

Minister for Women, Equalities and Family Justice, Caroline Dinenage, said she is delighted to hear about the funding.

She added: “The government is doing more than ever before to ensure that women have equality in the workplace.

I hope this fund helps women in Cambridgeshire to take their first step into the business world.”

The money allocated will help women in 16 new project areas across the country, including: digital and technology clinics in community access points and libraries, and a series of monthly lectures and coaching.