NCEE UK – Formal Response to the Women and Equalities Committee Report on Female Entrepreneurship
The National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education welcomes the publication of the Women and Equalities Committee’s Female Entrepreneurship report and strongly supports its call for a bold, coordinated and well-resourced national approach to unlocking the economic potential of women entrepreneurs across the UK.
The report clearly demonstrates that the UK continues to face systemic barriers in access to finance, networks, and growth opportunities for female-led enterprises, with only 2% of equity investment going to female founders and significant regional disparities in access to support and capital.
NCEE agrees that this represents not only an issue of fairness, but a substantial missed economic opportunity, with the potential to realise over £250 billion in additional economic growth if addressed effectively.
The Committee’s report provides a critical platform for transformational change in female entrepreneurship in the UK. NCEE welcomes its ambition and urgency, and we are committed to working collaboratively with Government and partners to ensure that this opportunity is realised for women, communities, and the UK economy.
NCEE Commitment
As the UK’s national organisation working with universities to support enterprise and entrepreneurship, NCEE stands ready to play a leading role in delivering the report’s recommendations, particularly in:
- Establishing a large-scale national programme to support female founders through mentorship, coaching, sponsorship and networks, as recommended in the report
- Addressing regional inequalities by leveraging university-led ecosystems across the UK
- Supporting female entrepreneurs in sectors often overlooked by policy, including social enterprise, care, community businesses and creative industries
NCEE’s extensive partnerships with universities, local authorities, and business support organisations position it uniquely to deliver impact in regions where the report identifies the greatest gaps in provision.
Working with Government
NCEE strongly supports the recommendation for a dedicated Female Entrepreneurship Strategy to drive implementation, accountability and transparency. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Government, the British Business Bank, Innovate UK and Metro Mayors to:
- co-design regional delivery models
- expand access to procurement opportunities for female-led businesses
- build pipelines that connect education, skills development, and enterprise growth
Universities as Engines of Inclusion and Growth
The report identifies a lack of support for women outside London, Oxford and Cambridge and highlights the need for regionally tailored networks and accelerators. NCEE believes universities are essential partners in addressing this challenge. Through their regional presence, research strengths, and community engagement, universities can ensure that female founders, including those returning to work, balancing caregiving responsibilities, or operating in non-traditional sectors, are supported to sustain and scale their ventures.
Data, Evidence and Evaluation
The Committee highlights the need for improved data collection and transparency in investment and support systems. NCEE supports this recommendation and stands ready to contribute through our research, evaluation and impact expertise, working with partners to build a more robust evidence base to inform policy and investment decisions.
Read the full report published by UK Parliament here.