Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
8th Report - Female entrepreneurship
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 711
Published 22 October 2025
Recommendations
11
Rejected
Require Government to develop and publish an ambitious strategy for advancing female entrepreneurship.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 businesses.
Government Equalities Office
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19
Rejected
Remove the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) age limit on eligibility entirely.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
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Conclusions (1)
10
Conclusion
Rejected
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 Summary
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 and the British Business Bank’s Strategic Plan.