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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

3 items
10 Conclusion 8th Report - Female entrepreneurship Rejected

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 support female-led businesses. (Conclusion, Paragraph 54)

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 …
Government Equalities Office
11 Recommendation 8th Report - Female entrepreneurship Rejected

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 stakeholders across the investment landscape but particularly female entrepreneurs. It …

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 …
Government Equalities Office
19 Recommendation 8th Report - Female entrepreneurship Rejected

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 of the sectors in which they operate and the impact …

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

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…