Research shows backing female-led businesses is good for growth

Research published today shows that women entrepreneurs have received a greater proportion of funding from Investing in Women Code signatories than the wider market.

Women entrepreneurs are driving some of the UK’s most exciting businesses, and the organisations backing them are continuing to outperform the wider market.

For the sixth consecutive year, signatories of the Investing in Women Code have directed a greater proportion of funding to female-founded businesses than the wider market, reflecting a shared recognition that backing women is not only the right thing to do, but the most economically sound thing to do.

The Code, a government-backed commitment to improve access to finance for women-led businesses, has grown from just 12 signatories in 2019 to more than 330 organisations today, including most major UK retail banks, venture capital firms, angel investors, and lenders. New signatories in 2026 include Nationwide and Innovate UK.

The findings, published today [8 July] as part of the Code’s annual report, come as Government works to unlock the UK’s full entrepreneurial potential by ensuring talented founders can access the finance they need to start and scale businesses, regardless of gender.

Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, said:

For the sixth year in a row, Investing in Women Code signatories have outperformed the wider market, showing that backing female founders is good for business and good for growth.