51¸£ÀûÉç

There has never been a more exciting time to be a female entrepreneur in the UK. More women than ever are starting businesses, with young women leading the charge. The extraordinary potential of female-led enterprises to boost the UK economy has finally begun to be recognised - at a time when the government is most focused on growth.

And the picture may be most positive of all in Cambridge, home to world-class clusters in key emerging sectors including AI, genomics, life sciences, cybersecurity and semiconductor design, as well as to two universities whose world-leading research sits at the heart of this innovation community.

But, despite this progress, female entrepreneurs in the UK continue to face significant barriers compared with men, ranging from access to funding and mentoring to greater caring responsibilities. According to the , only one in three UK entrepreneurs is female. If women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, the review found, it could add £250 billion to the UK economy.

The 51¸£ÀûÉç Enterprising Women programme, open to all female Cambridge University students, researchers and recent graduates, is designed to bring together the growing momentum of women's entrepreneurship and the possibilities of Cambridge research and talents - while also seeking to address some of the obstacles still holding brilliant women back.

The challenge

The face of entrepreneurship is changing. In 2022, women in the UK established over 150,000 new companies – more than twice as many as in 2018 (). Not only that, women's enterprising ambitions are kicking in earlier: 16 to 25-year-old women founded nearly 17,500 businesses in 2022, a figure that’s more than 22 times greater than in 2018. All-female-led companies represented 20% of all businesses in the UK in 2022, up from 16% in 2018.

Against this evolving backdrop, many of the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs remain familiar.

• Access to Funding

  Women-led start-ups receive significantly less investment than male-led businesses. In 2023, female-founded businesses secured only 2% of UK venture capital funding. Structural biases, smaller personal networks, and risk-averse investor tendencies contribute to this gap.

• Network and Mentorship Gaps

  Strong business networks and mentors play a crucial role in entrepreneurial success, yet many women lack access to the same influential connections as their male peers. Without the right mentorship, scaling a business can be more challenging.

• Societal and Cultural Barriers

  Gender biases still exist in entrepreneurship, from investors questioning commitment levels to societal expectations about leadership styles. Women founders often face added scrutiny when pitching to investors or seeking strategic partnerships.

• Balancing Responsibilities

  Women are more likely to juggle multiple responsibilities, including caregiving, which can limit their time and flexibility to grow a business. This structural issue means many female founders operate in industries with lower barriers to entry but also lower growth potential.

Opportunities

Despite these challenges, there are growing opportunities for women to build and scale successful businesses in the UK.

• Rising support networks

  More initiatives, accelerator programmes, and funding schemes are emerging to support female founders. Resources tailored for women-led businesses are expanding, including the suite of programmes - She Starts, She Scales and She Soars - being launched across Cambridge by 51¸£ÀûÉç Enterprising Women.

• Growing focus on diversity

  Investors and organisations are recognising the value of diverse leadership. Research shows that female-led businesses deliver higher returns on investment and are more resilient. This shift in mindset is leading to more funding opportunities and tailored support.

• Innovation in female-led sectors

  Women are leading innovation in key sectors such as femtech, edtech, and social ventures. These industries are receiving increasing investment and attention, opening new opportunities for female entrepreneurs to scale their impact.

• Cambridge as a hub for female entrepreneurship

  With its world-class research, strong investment ecosystem, and growing community of women-led start-ups, Cambridge provides a unique environment for female entrepreneurs. Programmes like Murray Edward Enterprising Women initiative aim to bridge the gap and empower the next generation of women in business.