The new age of female entrepreneurs
After a fantastic International Women’s Day on 8th March, IW Capital have reflected on the success of female entrepreneurs in the UK. The theme for International Women’s Day this year was ‘Break the Bias’, which prompted business leaders to foster a workplace that is free from bias and stereotypes. Removing the barriers to success for women is just one way that businesses can support the next generation of ambitious female entrepreneurs.
Women have made significant steps in the business world, with worldwide statistics showing that 252 million entrepreneurs, out of an approximate 582 million, are female. Adding to this, London-listed companies have been shown to be more profitable when women make up more than one in three executive roles. Female entrepreneurs have encountered challenges constantly in the business world, but, through their creativity and diligence, have thrived and continued to progress in the small business sector.
Recent statistics show that women currently own nearly 33% of UK small businesses, which shows a remarkable shift from four years ago when just 17% of founders were female. Recent statistics show that Derby is the leading city for female entrepreneurs, with 40% of Derby’s business owners being female. The UK small business eco-system is one of the most impressive sectors in the UK business scene. SMEs throughout the UK saw impressive growth throughout 2021 and have continued this momentum into 2022, with 56.2% of SMEs reporting a rise in earnings in the last quarter of 2021 versus the same period of 2020. In 2021, there was a record 319,000 new businesses registered in the UK. The number of small businesses in the UK now stands at 5.5 million, with recent research showing that two-thirds of the UK workforce want to start their own company. This shows a continued desire, driven by the pandemic, for individuals to start a business of their own in the UK.
It is an exciting time for the UK’s small business sector. Female entrepreneurs and leaders have played a massive part in this. The increase in female business leaders has been inspiring to see and they have advanced the small business ecosystem into being one of the most impressive sectors in the UK business scene.
IW Capital have backed a number of female-founded businesses and it is clear to see from experience and from the stats that businesses led and founded by women have been key in driving innovation and growth. This is reflected in the financial performance of these companies.
To find out how IW Capital could maximise your investment opportunities, please contact the team today on 020 7015 2250, or email info@iwcapital.co.uk.