Zarah ChoudharyOver 100 female entrepreneurs, banking representatives and Government officials came together on the evening of 23rd March to celebrate the success of British businesswomen and to explore ways of reducing financial barriers for women-led firms.
Hosted at The Studio in Leeds by Government department UK Export Finance (UKEF), the event welcomed speakers from prominent groups such as Female Founder Finance and the Invest in Women Taskforce.
UKEF is a Government department which helps businesses to export by offering financing guarantees and insurance.
In the 2023-24 financial year, UKEF’s backing for businesses contributed £3.3bn to the UK economy and supported up to 41,000 jobs across the country.
The department has set an objective to support more women-led businesses as part of its business plan.
According to the Rose Review, £250bn could be added to the economy if women matched men in receiving business investment.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Exports, said: “One of the priorities for this government is to break down barriers that women in business face, which includes access to finance.
“UK Export Finance is working alongside the broker Female Founder Finance to ensure its suite of services reach more female business owners so they can secure new investment opportunities and grow their operations.”
UKEF recently signed a partnership with Female Founder Finance.
Together, they plan on streamlining the process for referring eligible businesses into one another’s financing programmes, therefore reducing missed opportunities for women owners.
Roxanne Goodman, founder of Female Founder Finance, added: “The UKEF and Female Founder Finance partnership is a game-changer for women-led businesses looking to scale globally.
“Events like this reception are crucial for connecting female founders with the trade finance solutions they need to seize international opportunities.
“By breaking down barriers to funding, we’re empowering more women to succeed in international trade.”
