Female entrepreneurship

Women and Equalities Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 30 Jan 2025 Parliament page
The Women and Equalities Committee will examine the barriers women face pursuing entrepreneurialism. The inquiry will analyse in which sectors of the economy women face the greatest obstacles to entrepreneurship and why, and consider what can be done to address these.
25 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
1 Letter
6 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
22 Apr
2026
Oral evidence
22 Apr
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
25 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
27 Jan
2026
Report published
22 Oct
2025
Report published
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
2 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
2 Jul
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
4 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
4 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
7 May
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
22 Apr 2026
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Women and Equalities Committee
Blair McDougall MP · Department for Business and Trade Kristen McLeod · British Business Bank Paula Crofts · Department for Business and Trade The Lord Stockwood · Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury
25 Feb 2026
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Women and Equalities Committee
Debbie Wosskow OBE · Invest in Women Taskforce Jenny Tooth OBE · UK Business Angels Association Tara Attfield-Tomes · The 51% Club & EAST VILLAGE
2 Jul 2025
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Women and Equalities Committee
Gareth Thomas MP · Department for Business and Trade Gillian Unsworth · Equality Hub Paula Crofts · Department for Business and Trade The Baroness Gustafsson CBE · Department for Business and Trade
4 Jun 2025
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Women and Equalities Committee
Alice Albizzati · Revaia Jenny Tooth OBE · UK Business Angels Association Rupert Lyle · West Midlands Co-Investment Fund Sophie Winwood · unlock VC
7 May 2025
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Women and Equalities Committee
Devie Mohan · Burnmark Dr Roni Savage · Jomas Associates Izzy Obeng · Foundervine Louise Hill · GoHenry
2 Apr 2025
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Women and Equalities Committee
Debbie Wosskow OBE · Invest in Women Taskforce Dr Lorna Treanor · The University of Nottingham Dr Sarah Marks · Swansea University School of Management Jill Pay · The Gender Index Professor Ute Stephan · King's College London Stephen Welton CBE · British Business Bank
Title HC No. Published Items Response
8th Report - Female entrepreneurship HC 711 22 Oct 2025 41 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Require venture capital firms to increase the proportion of women on investment committees.
It should be a concern to all that a tiny fraction of venture capital investment goes to supporting women-led businesses. Despite numerous reviews and initiatives this situation is getting worse not better. Venture capital firms must do more to challenge … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, outlining new specific actions through the British Business Bank's Strategic Plan. These include launching the £400m Investor Pathways programme, expanding support to diverse angel networks with new Angel Syndicate Support and Embracing Diversity programmes, and strengthening data collection to promote transparency.
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2 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Require significant state intervention to increase access to finance for female founders.
The prize of £250 billion plus in potential growth is one that the Government should throw everything it has at pursuing. Current piecemeal initiatives have had little impact, systemic change is required. First and foremost this needs to be led … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the existing government-led Investing in Women Code as a significant initiative for transparency and accountability, and explains why the FCA does not request reporting from venture capital firms due to proportionality and streamlining plans.
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3 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
British Business Bank initiatives for women in venture capital are welcome but insufficient.
We welcome new initiatives by the British Business Bank to support more women into venture capital, particularly the commitment that at least 50% of investment from the Investor Pathways Capital initiative will be targeted at female fund managers and the … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomed the committee's focus, sharing the ambition to improve access to finance for female entrepreneurs, and detailed the British Business Bank's existing initiatives and new Strategic Plan which already embed diversity and inclusion, stating they will continue to work closely with the Bank.
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7 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Prepare Government to intervene on gender quotas if female entrepreneur investment does not improve.
Wo do not support mandating gender quotas on investment committees at this stage, as measures to improve transparency and increased incentives to change behaviour should be given time to have an effect; but the Government should not rule out intervention … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on supporting women-led businesses and highlights its current strategies, including the new British Business Bank £400m Investor Pathways scheme, to back under-represented entrepreneurs and foster an action-based approach through initiatives like the Invest in Women Taskforce.
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14 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Gender imbalance among angel investors limits growth of female-led businesses.
Angel investment is a vital lifeline for early-stage female-led businesses, particularly in sectors where institutional funding remains elusive. While recent growth in angel investment for women-led ventures is encouraging, the gender imbalance among angel investors continues to limit progress. Increasing … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the role of institutional investors and is addressing investment gaps through initiatives like the Mansion House Accord and the British Growth Partnership. It highlights the Invest in Women Taskforce and the Women Backing Women Fund of Funds, which are channeling institutional capital from various partners into female-led venture funds and businesses.
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15 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Insufficient funding for female entrepreneurs and lack of transparency in Regional Angel Programme.
We welcome the increase in funding to the British Business Bank’s Regional Angel Programme. However, we are not reassured that a sufficient proportion of the funding will go to addressing the market failure in support for female entrepreneurs and we … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with unlocking potential and describes a £100 million expansion of the British Business Bank's innovation clusters program, alongside other initiatives like the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator. Critically, the British Business Bank's Investor Pathways Capital initiative will target at least 50% of its investment towards female fund managers.
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21 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Significant gap in support for female entrepreneurs scaling businesses due to lack of capital.
There is a clear gap in support for female entrepreneurs who wish to scale their business or even to make it sustainable, particularly those whose businesses do not fall within those sectors of the economy considered ‘high growth’. We believe … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the value of unlocking potential and detailed existing initiatives and programmes, including a £100 million expansion (of an unspecified fund, possibly related to the British Business Bank), that aim to support female entrepreneurs and address access to finance barriers.
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22 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Urge institutional investors to increase support for female-led businesses and the Invest in Women Taskforce.
Institutional investors, including major banks and pension funds, are a key component of the funding landscape. We call on them to do much more to support female-led businesses, including through supporting the Invest in Women Taskforce. (Recommendation, Paragraph 87) Read more
Government Response
The government accepts this recommendation, stating it is addressing the issue through the Mansion House Accord and British Growth Partnership, coordinating with the Invest in Women Taskforce, and securing commitments from institutional investors to the Women Backing Women Fund of Funds. They are actively working to bring additional Mansion House signatories on board in 2026.
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24 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Insufficient support and opportunities exist for female founders outside the ‘Golden Triangle’.
There is a lack of pitch events, accelerators, networks and mentorship opportunities for female founders. Many that do exist tend to be focused on the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Cambridge, Oxford and London, limiting the growth potential of businesses in other … Read more
Government Response
The government has committed to strengthening financial education in the curriculum, with revised content to be taught from September 2028, to increase financial confidence in girls and enhance future female entrepreneurship.
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26 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Establish a large-scale nationwide programme supporting female founders to sustain and scale businesses.
As part of a new Strategy for Female Entrepreneurship, the Government should establish a large-scale nationwide programme dedicated to supporting female founders across all sectors to sustain and scale up their businesses. The programme should offer mentorship, sponsorship, coaching and … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the value of supporting female founders and works with the British Business Bank and Metro Mayors, highlighting existing and new initiatives like the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator and the Investor Pathways Capital initiative, which targets at least 50% of investment to female fund managers, along with a £100 million expansion of the Bank's regional funds.
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27 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Develop a programme promoting targeted, female-focused accelerators in underrepresented high-growth sectors.
The Government should develop a specific programme of promoting targeted, female-focused accelerators in high growth sectors where women are underrepresented. Such a measure was noticeably missing from the Industrial Strategy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111) Read more
Government Response
The government has accepted the recommendation, announcing the launch of the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator in partnership with Lifted Ventures, commencing in January 2026. This programme is specifically designed to support women-led businesses in high-growth sectors to scale internationally.
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28 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Develop specific entrepreneurial support programmes for women in postgraduate and postdoctoral studies.
Universities are a vital source of innovative start-ups, but evidence to this inquiry suggests women are less likely to take up entrepreneurship courses and/or develop spinouts than their male peers. This is a missed opportunity for growth. The Government should … Read more
Government Response
The government has accepted the recommendation, outlining new entrepreneurship fellowships, £25 million for doctoral training schemes, a £4.5 million round of Women in Innovation Awards, and specific women-led Discover and ICURe Explore programmes, all designed to support female entrepreneurs in postgraduate and postdoctoral studies.
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30 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Review maternity legislation for self-employed women and tailor policies to support entrepreneurial aspirations.
Self-employed women (and those employed via their small business) are poorly served by the UK’s parental leave arrangements. As part of its Parental Leave and Pay Review, the Government should review legislation 57 pertaining to maternity through the lens of … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms its Parental Leave and Pay review, launched on 1 July 2025 and running for 18 months, will consider parental leave and pay for all parents, including the self-employed, and assess fairness and equality across employment statuses, directly addressing the recommendation.
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38 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Significant gap in financial and enterprise education hinders young entrepreneurs.
Young people in the UK show strong entrepreneurial ambition, yet a lack of financial education and awareness hinders their ability to turn aspirations into viable businesses. While initiatives like Young Enterprise and Talk Learn Do demonstrate the positive impact of … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to strengthening financial education in the curriculum with a revised content plan for 2027 and implementation by September 2028, directly addressing the identified gaps and need for earlier provision to build foundational skills and confidence.
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39 Conclusion Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Gap in financial and enterprise education disproportionately affects young women.
This gap disproportionately affects young women, who will face greater barriers in accessing networks, mentorship, and funding, and whose confidence drops as they progress through education. Embedding enterprise and financial literacy skills into the curriculum is essential to creating a … Read more
Government Response
The government is committed to strengthening financial education in the curriculum, with revised content planned for publication by 2027 and teaching from September 2028, directly addressing the identified importance of embedding these skills.
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40 Recommendation Accepted
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Increase provision of financial and enterprise education in schools, boosting girls' confidence.
The Government should work to increase the provision and relevance of financial and enterprise education in schools and to ensure that it is delivered as a core part of the curriculum. Seeking to increase the financial confidence of girls should … Read more
Government Response
The government has committed to strengthening financial education in mathematics and citizenship as part of a curriculum review, with a public consultation in 2026, content publication by 2027, and teaching from September 2028. This work will also consider how to increase the financial confidence of girls.
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Government Response AI assessment · 41 of 25 classified
Accepted 16
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 11
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 3
Total 25 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
3 Sep 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury and the Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, Department for Business and Trade, dated 20.08.2025
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