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
1 result
Clear
35 Conclusion Not Addressed
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Current tax and support systems fail to accommodate self-employed mothers adequately.
Current tax and support systems are largely designed for traditional employment models and fail to accommodate the realities of self- employment and entrepreneurship. This not only places an unfair financial burden on entrepreneurial mothers but also reinforces outdated assumptions about … Read more
Government Response
The government's response did not directly address the conclusion regarding the design of tax and support systems for self-employment and entrepreneurship, instead focusing primarily on existing and future childcare provisions.
Government Equalities Office
View details
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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