Swansea University’s Hilary Lappin-Scott has urged female entrepreneurs and innovators of the future to grab their opportunities and pursue their ambitions.

In her keynote presentation at an Innovate UK conference held at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre, Professor Lappin-Scott emphasised that entrepreneurship is vital to bringing social and economic growth to the region.

She said:

“Innovation underpins some of the most successful entrepreneurs in history. To be truly entrepreneurial, to achieve and sustain success, we need to continually innovate.

“We need to ensure we are developing existing female talent within our institutions and recruiting additional female talent from all over the world.”

She highlighted the role the university sector can play in encouraging future generations of innovators – Swansea University alone is working on more than 30 projects, with funding of around £120 million.

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The conference – entitled Innovation and Entrepreneurship within a corporate culture – is one of four Building Success events held across the UK by Government-funded Innovate UK. These are open to women from any sector working within innovation.

These events are designed to inspire and encourage women-led businesses, something which Professor Lappin-Scott is passionate about.

“Funding? Apply everywhere, ask for as much as you can get don’t be shy. Be confident in your abilities to aim for the sky… and achieve it.”

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She concluded by urging her audience to: “Keep focus on career progression. Aim for the next rung, one rung at a time. Keep going. Invest in yourself. Develop your skills. Take your opportunities. Go for it.”