Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
8th Report - Female entrepreneurship
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 711
Published 22 October 2025
Government response
8th Special Report - Female entrepreneurship: Government Response · published 27 Jan 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
4
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Require British Business Bank to set target to increase equity finance for female entrepreneurs to 10%.
Recommendation
We recommend that the British Business Bank should: • have a fifth strategic objective, to ensure that equity finance to female entrepreneurs in the UK increases from 2% to 10% by 2030; • set itself the target of ensuring that …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's recommendations for the British Business Bank but does not commit to immediate changes, stating it will not rule out interventions in the future if investment in female entrepreneurs does not improve.
Government Equalities Office
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8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Innovate UK's funding structures and processes exhibit systemic bias against female entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Innovate UK provides an essential funding stream for mainly male entrepreneurs. Women who seek to access funding from it report their projects being undervalued and subject to biased investment decisions from majority male assessment panels. Match funding requirements exclude women …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the conclusion by highlighting Innovate UK's existing Women in Innovation Programme, its past successes, and claiming equal success rates for applications. It also notes new actions being taken, such as establishing a Community Forum, launching an assessor recruitment campaign, and exploring ways to help investors identify women-led businesses.
Government Equalities Office
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9
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Require Innovate UK to ringfence 30% of funding and reform processes for female entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Public funding structures should challenge gender bias and not reinforce it. Innovate UK should: • ringfence a minimum of 30% of its funding for female entrepreneurs with year on year increases to 40% by 2030; 53 • in the short …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the recommendations and highlights the British Business Bank's new Strategic Plan and existing programmes, such as Start Up Loans, which embed diversity and inclusion to support female entrepreneurs. It commits to continue working with partners to build a more inclusive finance environment but does not explicitly address the specific Innovate UK actions.
Government Equalities Office
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34
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Caregiving responsibilities and childcare costs remain significant barriers to female entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Caregiving responsibilities and the cost and availability of childcare remain significant, yet often overlooked, barriers to female entrepreneurship. Women are disproportionately affected by the demands of caregiving, which limits their time, income, and ability to scale their businesses, particularly during …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the conclusion regarding caregiving responsibilities and childcare costs as barriers, outlining a forthcoming Department for Education review of childcare provision, existing schemes like Tax-Free Childcare, and the National Wraparound Childcare program, while also mentioning future plans for nannies.
Government Equalities Office
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