Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Insufficient support and opportunities exist for female founders outside the ‘Golden Triangle’.
Conclusion
There is a lack of pitch events, accelerators, networks and mentorship opportunities for female founders. Many that do exist tend to be focused on the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Cambridge, Oxford and London, limiting the growth potential of businesses in other regions. This disproportionately affects women, who are more likely to start businesses outside this hub. Without a deliberate shift in focus, the UK risks entrenching geographic and gender inequalities in entrepreneurship and missing out on the full economic potential of its diverse regions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 108)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government has committed to strengthening financial education in the curriculum, with revised content to be taught from September 2028, to increase financial confidence in girls and enhance future female entrepreneurship.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Government agrees in the value of unlocking the potential of people and place, so that no matter who you are or where you live impacts your business growth. This is why we are proud to work in partnership with the British Business Bank as well as Metro Mayors who share this mission. Addressing structural access to finance barriers faced by entrepreneurs of all backgrounds across the UK is a key element of the Bank’s strategy. Announced in the Industrial Strategy, Government has designed a series of investment partnerships, giving city regions and clusters the expertise and catalytic financing to secure private investment and to deliver Mayors’ Local Growth Plans. This includes funding for Growth Hubs and the Bank’s new programme to support clusters of innovation which will coordinate investment-readiness programmes, strengthen financial networks, and connect high-potential firms in the IS-8 to investors in 10 city regions. This will be underpinned by a £100 million expansion of the Bank’s Nations and Regions Investment Fund to back businesses across the UK. Government will continue to work with Metro Mayors as they set regional economic strategies that prioritise innovation, enterprise, and inclusive growth. We will seek to support Metro Mayors as they create a supportive environment for startups and scale-ups as well as to unlock funding streams and make capital more accessible for all entrepreneurs.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗