On 2 October, UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Women in Export & Infrastructure Forum (WEXIF) were hosted at Norton Rose Fulbright in London to discuss how women-led businesses are reshaping the landscape. The event brought together individuals from a range of backgrounds – founders, financiers and lawyers to name a few – to explore how inclusive mindsets and practical support can unlock the potential of women-led businesses. We heard insights from some truly inspirational women about their journeys, as well as their thoughts on what needs to change to support female founders:

• Roxanne Goodman, Female Founder Finance
• Sam Cooper-Gray, Invest in Women Taskforce and Podcaster
• Marie Hall, UK Export Finance
• Auste Ciapiene, TLKE
• Heba Bevan, Utterberry
• Moderator: Zara Hussain, UK Export Finance

The funding gap: A missed opportunity

Central to the discussion was the untapped economic value of supporting women in business. Among other statistics, Sam highlighted that there is a staggering £1.7 trillion global funding gap for women. Yet, the Rose Review found that up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy alone if women received equal investment opportunities. The data suggests that women-led businesses grow fast and are less likely to become insolvent. 

“Ignore us at your peril”, Sam said. Supporting women in business is good for economic growth, not just a matter of equality. Sam went on to explain the importance of ensuring that funding is accessible to female founders, and what the Invest in Women Taskforce is doing to implement that. Marie, at UK Export Finance, spoke about how they help to connect female founders to lenders or brokers who will provide them with support and funding. 

Breaking barriers: Knowledge is power

Access to finance is only part of the equation. The panellists shared examples of how structural bias continues to hinder the growth of women-led businesses. We heard of one founder who felt it was necessary to bring her husband, who is otherwise unrelated to her business, to meetings as the “CFO” with scripted answers so that her business was taken seriously.

UK Export Finance and Female Founder Finance have collaborated on a number of investment opportunities, and we heard how Female Founder Finance do not provide one-off advice. Instead, they build trust, educate and take a hand-holding approach to help women grow their businesses from start-ups to public listed companies. The partnership between UK Export Finance and Female Founder Finance is helping women navigate complex lending environments. One example of this was a founder who was denied an overdraft due to a lack of credit history, despite a solid business plan. With the right advice on trade finance from Female Founder Finance, she secured support and proved that unconscious bias can be challenged.

From founders relying on personal credit cards to having overexposed debt, the panellists highlighted the importance of demystifying finance, providing education and creating spaces where women can access reliable advice. Initiatives, like WEXIF and UK Export Finance’s inclusive founder programmes, are also helping to bridge these gaps and provide women with the tools they need to succeed. 

Roxanne urged the audience not to “gatekeep knowledge”, recalling how demand for the guides on the Female Founder Finance website were so popular that it crashed the website on release.

Women-led growth is worth watching

The event showcased a range of businesses which demonstrated how women are leading across various industries, from tech to jewellery suppliers. We heard about TLKE and Utterberry from Auste and Heba, and about their journeys to grow their businesses. 

TLKE is a female founded jewellery business with a global reach in high-end jewellery distribution. Auste shared how the business scaled with UK Export Finance’s support, which enabled them to avoid cash deposits and improve cash flow. Auste was able to transition from a sales role in a startup into the finance department of a much larger business – growing professionally alongside the company’s expansion. This is a powerful example of how education and strategic support fuels growth. 

Heba, an engineer and founder in the tech space, spoke about her journey to get to where she is today – it was not straightforward. Whether it was reflecting on the fact that she was the only woman on her engineering course, to facing pay disparities because of her gender. There were systematic challenges that had to be overcome, resulting in an overwhelming drive to not want her daughter to experience these challenges and to emphasise the importance of “sending the lift back down” – a powerful reminder that progress is about creating opportunities for future generations. 

Looking ahead

Sam reminded the audience that change requires diverse voices at the table. Inclusive business is about building systems where voices are valued and amplified. The message from the panellists was clear that progress requires collective effort. So, when asked what one change could help transform the landscape for women in business, our panellists offered the following perspectives: 

• Funding needs to be more accessible for women-led businesses.

• Knowledge and education are essential drivers of change.

• Success stories should be amplified. 

• There is a need for collective action and ensuring that women support other women. 

The discussions highlighted that investing in women is not just about equality – it is a strategic one. With the right support, women-led businesses can drive innovation, create jobs and grow the global economy more sustainably. The challenge remains to ensure that women are backed, and that no founder is left behind.