WEC to question Ministers and the British Business Bank on support for female entrepreneurs
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hear from Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment, Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, and the British Business Bank during an evidence session following WEC’s inquiry on Female entrepreneurship.
Meeting details
MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will assess progress in supporting female entrepreneurship after the publication of the Committee’s October 2025 report and the Government’s response published in January.
Discussion is likely to focus on where further action is required from Ministers, the British Business Bank, and the wider investment community to unlock the economic potential of female entrepreneurs and close the UK’s persistent gender entrepreneurship gap.
MPs identified access to finance for female founders as a crucial issue given the ‘tiny fraction’ of venture capital investment going to supporting women-led businesses. Despite numerous reviews and initiatives this situation is ‘getting worse’ not better, the Committee warned.