Across the city and the North Yorkshire region there are more than 23,000 fewer self-employed women than men, and men remain nearly twice as likely to work for themselves. They’re stark figures that have come out of a new report highlighting the persistent barriers facing women entrepreneurs in York and North Yorkshire. A group of researchers, entrepreneurs and advocates in the region – led by the University of York’s business support community Enterprise Works – is now addressing these systemic challenges. Critically, the research undertaken to inform the report was drawn directly from local female entrepreneurs, to ensure it reflected their experiences. Scores of local entrepreneurs and business leaders have backed the findings as well, including the chair of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s business board, Jennifer Wood.