Baroness Jay, minister for women, praised Sussex's female e-commerce entrepreneurs when she visited the county last week.

Her comments came as she met local businesswomen at the Sussex Innovation Centre at Falmer.

Managing director Jane Graham, of Viking Media, spent an hour with the minister.

Ms Graham said: "She was very impressed. We had a good talk and she was a very nice lady.

"I told her how I used to work for firms like Kodak until I got fed up of making lots of money for other people."

The visit highlighted the challenges facing women setting up new media businesses.

Ms Graham told Baroness Jay how she divided her time between running a firm and looking after her 14- month-old son Bjoin.

The Sussex Innovation Centre also won praise from Baroness Jay. She said: "I am very impressed by the services being offered by the centre.

"The advice, information and support it's providing are exactly what's needed to ensure that more women can set up and develop businesses."

The minister hosted a seminar on women in e-commerce at Sussex University.

She said: "Not enough girls see IT as a job for them. Women need to get trained in IT and wired up to the web to ensure they make the most of the opportunities technology and the e-economy offer."

Female entrepreneurs now set up a third of new businesses and Britain will benefit if more women follow their lead, said the minister.

She used the occasion to announce the launch of a forum for women on the Number 10 website. Members of the public will be able to post ideas and suggestions on a range of issues affecting women.

www.number10.gov.uk