BBC North, McCann Manchester, Amazerealise, TBWA and Havas are some of the companies backing Creative Equals, an organisation set up to help women in the North get back into work.
Liverpool technical innovation centre Sensor City has launched a competition to give 10 SMEs the chance to win a fast-track growth package worth up to £10,000.
The Northern Power Women list has been published, revealing the 100 women who have contributed to making a difference in their communities and raising awareness of gender equality across the region.