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
6 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Require British Business Bank to mandate data on equitable investment decisions for female-led businesses.
In the immediate term, the British Business Bank must take more of an interest in whom its funding supports. Venture capital firms and angel investors that benefit from public funding should be required to demonstrate gender-equitable investment decisions. The British … Read more
Government Response
The government states the British Business Bank's new Strategic Plan emphasizes diversity and inclusion, and the Bank already strengthens data collection and encourages responsible investment practices. It also highlights existing initiatives like Start Up Loans and the new Investor Pathways Capital initiative to support diverse founders and decision-makers.
Government Equalities Office
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13 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Set a 10% target for public contracts awarded to female-led businesses by Parliament end.
The Government should set itself a target for the proportion of public contracts awarded to female-led businesses similar to initiatives in Canada, the US and Nordic countries. Given the low base we suggest a target of at least 10% by … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts in part, stating that central government departments must set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs and two-year targets for VCSEs, which they claim will benefit female-led businesses. However, they do not commit to a specific target for female-led businesses as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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17 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Awareness and take-up of SEIS/EIS tax incentives remain low among women investors.
Tax incentives such as SEIS and EIS have proven effective in stimulating investment. Yet awareness, accessibility and take-up remain lower among women investors and outside of the South East. To achieve meaningful change, government and industry must work together to … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with the Invest in Women Taskforce to amplify awareness of EIS/SEIS schemes to eligible women-led businesses. Additionally, it has launched a Call for Evidence on the effectiveness of existing tax incentives and the wider tax system for businesses, which will close in February 2026.
Government Equalities Office
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29 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Launch a national campaign highlighting female role models and promoting the Invest in Women Hub.
Alongside a strategy on female entrepreneurship, the Government should launch a national campaign highlighting female role models at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey. It also needs to better promote the Invest in Women Hub. (Recommendation, Paragraph 113) Caregiving and … Read more
Government Response
The government supports showcasing female role models and promoting the Invest in Women Hub, stating it will achieve this by amplifying industry-led initiatives and coordinating efforts with existing taskforces and the Hub, rather than launching its own national campaign.
Government Equalities Office
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37 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Review adequacy of childcare support for self-employed mothers, including tax deductibility and flexibility.
The Government should undertake a review of the adequacy of existing childcare support for self-employed mothers. That review should consider: the potential merits of making childcare a tax-deductible expense, if only 58 for an initial period; expanding free hours of … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms the Department for Education will lead a review of childcare provision to simplify the system and highlights existing Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) for self-employed parents. However, it does not explicitly commit the review to the specific considerations for self-employed mothers, such as tax-deductibility or 0-3 month nannying, and states no current plans to regulate nannies.
Government Equalities Office
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41 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Address gender bias in STEM curriculum and increase female role model visibility.
Women and girls remain underrepresented in STEM subjects and less likely to pursue entrepreneurship in this field. The Government and higher education institutes should work to address gender bias in curriculum design in STEM subjects and strive to increase the … Read more
Government Response
The Department for Education is reforming the curriculum to embed diverse scientists and innovators, addressing gender bias in STEM subjects. The government also points to its partnership with the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code and the long-running STEM Ambassadors programme, which includes 48% women volunteers, to increase role model visibility.
Government Equalities Office
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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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