Invest in Women Taskforce

?? ???????? ??????????, ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????? ￡?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????????????????? ? The response we have received has been nothing short of extraordinary. Fund of Fund Managers, General Partners, and founders alike have reached out with questions and messages of support – proving just how vital this initiative is in transforming the investment landscape. ? ??? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ‘?????????? ?????????????? ??????????’ ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????? ? To help answer that, we sat down with the co-chairs of the Invest in Women Taskforce. In this video, they explore the transformative potential of the Women backing Women fund and what this means for each of you. ? Please stay tuned for updates on our LinkedIn as we continue to progress the funding activity. As Debbie Wosskow, OBE so aptly mentions “We’ve made a start, but this is just the beginning”...? ? Reminder that our Request for Proposal process is OPEN for Fund of Fund Managers until the?23rd?of December?– find out more information on how to submit?here: https://lnkd.in/eHDP3ChX ? Debbie Wosskow, OBE, Hannah Bernard OBE ? #InvestinWomen #WomenbackingWomen #Funding #Investing

When Clare Roberts OBE couldn’t find the right childcare for her daughter, she took matters into her own hands—founding Kids Planet Day Nurseries, now one of the UK’s largest and highest-rated nursery groups in the UK. With BGF’s investment, Clare scaled to more than 190 nurseries, proving that purpose-driven leadership and smart growth strategies can transform an industry. ?? Watch now to learn: ? How Clare turned a challenge into a thriving family business ? The role of investment in scaling a values-driven company ? Leadership lessons on agility, resilience, and bold decision-making ?? Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eP69mgdi #InvestInWomen #FemaleFounders #WomenInBusiness #GrowthJourney #Entrepreneurship #Childcare #ScaleUp #BGF

?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????-?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? Procurement can be a powerful lever for driving diversity and inclusion. When procurement teams actively engage with diverse suppliers, including female-led businesses, it helps level the playing field and ensures a broader range of perspectives and expertise are reflected in supply chains. Last week, the IWT brought together 16 industry leaders to explore how we can create more opportunities for female-led businesses within supply chains. Chaired by Irene Graham OBE Graham and Sam Cooper-Gray from HSBC, the discussion focused on how to: ? Encourage procurement teams to engage with female-led SMEs ? Equip businesses to become more effective buyers of diverse services ? Ensure female founders have greater access to government and corporate supply chains The roundtable deep-dived into practical strategies, from developing toolkits and masterclasses to advocating for policy change and boosting visibility for female founders. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this critical conversation ???? Supporting female entrepreneurs in procurement is another essential step toward building a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape ????

?? ?? Helping Women-led businesses access the right support ?? ?? ??Lloyds banking is committed to improving access to finance, providing expert guidance and delivering tailored initiatives to support female entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Here’s what Lloyds Bank have to offer: ? ?????????????????? & ????????????????: Discover supportive communities that can help build valuable connections, gain knowledge and drive business results. ? ???????????? ?????????????????? & ????????????????: the Women Business Hub offers tailored guides, expert advice, and networking opportunities to help female founders navigate the challenges of growing their businesses. ? ?????????????????? ??????????????: Find the right financial support through their finance tool that suggests suitable support based on your business goals. ????????????????????? ???????????????? & ????????????????: Partnering with The Lifted Project.?The Lifted Project is a data and ecosystem-led approach to increasing the flow of capital to regional, high-growth women founders. The project will initially establish Regional Growth Boards in Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Scotland. If you’re a female founder looking for guidance, check out what Lloyds has to offer!: https://lnkd.in/eBmEapK8 Lloyds Banking Group, Eleanor Baker, Beth Knight and Jo Clough #Lloyds #InvestinWomen #FemaleEntrepreneur

???????????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??????????: ???????? ???? ???? ??????????! We’re excited to share that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is hosting a series of events focusing on “Empowering Women in Global Trade” ?? London – 1st April ?? Birmingham – 2nd April ?? York – 3rd April These events are open to all women in business looking to expand their global footprint, And gain valuable insights into international trade. ???????? ???? ????????????: ?? Expo Zone - Connect with organisations offering tailored support for women in business. ?? 1:1 Business Chats - Get expert advice from Export Champions and International Trade Advisers. ?? Silent Disco Sessions - Deep dive into topics like market entry, global branding, and compliance, delivered via headphones! ?????? ????????????? ? Inspiration: Gain insights from successful women leading the way in international trade. ?? Networking: Build valuable connections with peers and industry experts. ?? Knowledge: Stay informed on the latest global economic trends. ?? Support: Explore the resources and guidance available from the Department for Business and Trade. ?? Expo & 1:1 Zones: Engage with exhibitors offering tailored business support and get personalised advice from Export Champions and International Trade Advisers. Sign up here ????? https://lnkd.in/eaCEmtTG Let’s accelerate opportunities for women in business together!

Equipping female entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed ?? If you’re a female entrepreneur looking to scale faster, attract investment and build a powerful network, Barclays Business Banking has the support to make it happen! Here is what Barclays can offer you: ?? ?? Specialist Coaching: Free specialist coaching sessions to help female founders with business planning, cashflow forecasts, digital support, accessing finance and more. ?? Female Founder Accelerator: In partnership with AccelerateHER , this accelerator will be 9 weeks of masterclasses where you will learn about marketing strategies, sales and negotiation, financial management and building a team. Plus you’ll get 121 mentoring, accountability groups and in- person networking events! ?? Demo Directory: A game-changing platform connecting founders with investors actively looking to fund high-potential businesses. Already 41% of businesses listed have a female founder! More visibility, more opportunities, more women getting funded. Barclays is making real change to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs. #Barclays #InvestinWomen

?? Driving change with the UK’s biggest banks Access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers for female founders. We recognise the pivotal role that financial institutions play in supporting female entrepreneurs. Over the next couple of days, we will be spotlighting how each of these banks is stepping up to support female entrepreneurs – through finance, mentorship, and initiatives designed to fuel long-term growth. ?? And today we’re starting with NatWest Group! Between 2020 + 2021 NatWest made ￡2 billion in funding available to help support female-led businesses in the UK recover from the impact of COVID-19. ?? Today, they continue to support female-led businesses with a community of over 1000 Women in Business Accredited Specialists and financial options. ?? If you’re a female founder looking to scale faster, grow smarter, and connect with the right people, the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator is for you! What’s in it for founders? ??121 coaching – Get tailored support from experienced mentors ??Access to investors & industry experts – Build the network you need to grow ??Workshops & Events – stay ahead with insights from top leaders ??Community – connect with like-minded founders, because growth is better together! And the best part? It’s completely free! NatWest is committed to backing female entrepreneurs with the tools, connections and confidence to scale. #NatWest #InvestinWomen

Sharon Baylay-Bell, former BBC CMO, Microsoft leader, and Chair of BGF-backed DriveWorks gives her insights on building a strong board, working with investors, and scaling successfully - key learnings for those navigating high-growth businesses or considering non-exec roles. ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ecHRdXT7 #InvestInWomen #FemaleFounders #WomenOnBoards #Leadership #ScaleUp #BusinessGrowth #BGF

Don’t miss our co-chair Hannah Bernard OBE in the Financial Times Today! Investment in female-led start-ups isn’t just stalling; it’s reversing. Despite rapid advancements in UK tech, one thing remains stuck in the past: outdated investment patterns that continue to leave women behind. While AI investment in the UK has soared, doubling from ￡1.72bn in 2023 to ￡3.55bn, the funding gap between male and female teams is staggering: ?? ￡5.3M for male-led teams vs. ￡800K for female-led teams. Hannah discusses our mission to increase female representation in VC and angel networks. Why? To ensure that women aren’t just seeking investment… they’re shaping it ??

This week, the Invest in Women Taskforce and Ecosystem Board came together setting the exciting agenda for the months ahead ??? From investment to systemic change, both board groups are focused on driving tangible progress for female entrepreneurs. ? We have a lot planned for 2025, and look forward to sharing updates in the coming months. ? Watch this space! ? Debbie Wosskow, OBE Hannah Bernard OBE