Launch of the Female Entrepreneurs Community

In the UK, female entrepreneurs are vital to economic growth and innovation, yet their full potential remains untapped. Women currently lead around 880,000 businesses—just 18% of all UK companies. Research shows that if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it could unlock up to £250 billion in additional value for the UK economy.

Despite this opportunity, female founders continue to face persistent barriers—especially when it comes to funding. In 2024, just 1.8% of total equity investment went to all-female founder teams, down from 2.5% in 2023. This is particularly stark given that women-led businesses deliver, on average, 35% higher returns.

At WIBF, we are committed to breaking down these barriers and creating the conditions for female entrepreneurs to thrive.

That’s why we are proud to launch the WIBF Female Entrepreneurs Community—a new initiative designed to support, connect and empower female entrepreneurs across all sectors and stages of business.

The community will offer:

• Tailored insights and expert-led content

• Strategic connections and peer support

• Mentoring from senior leaders in banking and finance

• Practical guidance on accessing funding and scaling sustainably

Whether you’re an aspiring founder or an established entrepreneur, this community gives you access to the tools, networks and knowledge to grow your impact and business with confidence.

The community is co-led by Beverley Brown, an experienced leader and long-time advocate for women in business. Bev previously led the WIBF Alumni Network, helping to build a strong and supportive community of senior women across financial services. She brings deep industry insight and a passion for inclusive entrepreneurship.

Bev is joined by Sadie Tully, Senior Manager at HSBC and member of WIBF’s Future Leaders Shadow Board. Sadie has worked across wealth management and corporate banking in London and Geneva, and now drives HSBC’s global strategy to support female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses. She is also an active mentor for women looking to enter financial services from non-traditional backgrounds.

We’ll be officially launching the community with a dedicated event this autumn. Sign up now to be the first to hear more and to get involved.