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
3 results
Clear
10 Conclusion Rejected
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Government Industrial and SME Strategies failed to include specific support for female-led businesses.
The Industrial Strategy and SME Strategy were ideal opportunities for the Government to launch the systemic change required to unlock the enormous potential that female-led businesses can offer. It is deeply disappointing that neither strategy contained any specific measures to … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the conclusion, stating that women-led businesses are central to the economy and their interests are embedded into mainstream policies and existing strategies. They emphasize that women were included in the SME Strategy through policies for under-represented entrepreneurs and the British Business Bank’s Strategic Plan.
Government Equalities Office
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11 Recommendation Rejected
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Require Government to develop and publish an ambitious strategy for advancing female entrepreneurship.
The Government should develop and publish an ambitious strategy for advancing female entrepreneurship to sit alongside and complement the existing Industrial Strategy and SME Strategy. This strategy should be published within 12 months. It should be developed in consultation with … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for a separate strategy for female entrepreneurship, stating they believe collective commitment and embedding women-led businesses into mainstream policies and existing strategies is more effective. They cite various existing initiatives and programmes that support female-led businesses.
Government Equalities Office
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19 Recommendation Rejected
8th Report - Female entrepreneursh…
Remove the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) age limit on eligibility entirely.
The Government should remove entirely the age limit on eligibility for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). The existing seven-year threshold does not adequately reflect the structural and social challenges faced by many 55 female founders, including longer growth trajectories typical … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, explaining that the current 7-year age limit for EIS effectively targets early-stage, high-risk companies, and expanding it would risk displacing investment from these companies.
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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