WEC launches new inquiry into female entrepreneurship

• New inquiry: Female entrepreneurship
• Submit evidence to the inquiry
• Women and Equalities Committee

MPs on the cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, 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.

It will look at examples of best practice in supporting female-led entrepreneurship, both in the UK and internationally, plus what steps the Government should take to help support the development of female-led high growth enterprises.

MPs will explore how women can best secure funding to start and grow their businesses, including a focus on intersectional issues and regional variations in opportunity.

The Treasury commissioned Alison Rose DBE, CEO of NatWest Group, to lead an independent review of female entrepreneurship in 2019. The Investing in Women Code (IWC) was founded in response to the Rose Review's findings that same year. The IWC was designed to help diversify business and reduce gender-based disparities in the entrepreneurial community.

In 2022, the then Government established a Women-Led High Growth Enterprise Taskforce to increase the number of female-led businesses, particularly outside London. Last September, the Chancellor launched the Invest in Women Taskforce, a successor to the Rose Review, which aims to create one of the world’s largest investment funding pools aimed solely at female founders.

Chair Comment

Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said:

"There is huge economic and creative potential among women wishing to start and run their own businesses. Yet women face barriers pursuing entrepreneurialism that men do not. They range from gender bias in the provision of financial and other support to challenges around caring responsibilities. 

Women are less likely than men to attempt to start a business. Moreover, when women do ask for funding, they ask for and receive smaller amounts, in part due to the investment landscape being male dominated. Black and minority ethnic female entrepreneurs often experience the worst outcomes in terms of funding and support.

As the Government aims to strengthen economic growth, a timely assessment is needed into what more could be done to help the development of female-led enterprises. WEC’s inquiry will examine existing policies and assistance for female entrepreneurs, looking across sectors from finance to femtech to identify best practice and address issues in relation to funding and investment."

Submit evidence

The Committee invites written submissions through the inquiry website addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference by Friday 14 March 2025. 

• What are the barriers facing women, including specific groups of women such as those from an ethnic minority background, seeking to start and grow successful businesses in the UK?
• In which sectors of the economy do women face the greatest barriers to entrepreneurship, why is this, and what could be done to tackle them?
• How can women best be supported to overcome the challenges they face in securing funding to start and grow their businesses?
• What examples are there of best practice in supporting female-led entrepreneurship, both in the UK and internationally?
• What steps should the Government take to help support the development of female-led high growth enterprises?
• What data exists or is required to track success and monitor progress in female entrepreneurship?

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
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