Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Female entrepreneurship

Status: Open Opened: 30 Jan 2025 25 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

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.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
8th Report - Female entrepreneurship HC 711 22 Oct 2025 41 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
35 Conclusion 8th Report - Female entrepreneurship Not Addressed

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 This not only places an unfair financial burden on entrepreneurial mothers but also reinforces outdated assumptions about gender roles and business viability. (Conclusion, Paragraph 136)

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

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
22 Apr 2026 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 View ↗
25 Feb 2026 Debbie Wosskow OBE · Invest in Women Taskforce, Jenny Tooth OBE · UK Business Angels Association, Tara Attfield-Tomes · The 51% Club & EAST VILLAGE View ↗
2 Jul 2025 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 View ↗
4 Jun 2025 Alice Albizzati · Revaia, Jenny Tooth OBE · UK Business Angels Association, Rupert Lyle · West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, Sophie Winwood · unlock VC View ↗
7 May 2025 Devie Mohan · Burnmark, Dr Roni Savage · Jomas Associates, Izzy Obeng · Foundervine, Louise Hill · GoHenry View ↗
2 Apr 2025 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 View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
3 Sep 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Tr…