Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to Venture Capital: Women

Wednesday 7 May 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • For every 1 of equity funding, only 2p goes to fully female-funded businesses in the UK.
  • The proportion of equity capital investment going to all female-founded firms in the UK has remained at around 2% for the last decade.
  • The Department is collaborating with the Treasury and the invest in women taskforce to address the funding gap for women-led start-ups.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sonia Kumar Lab Dudley
Business & Trade
Context

Women-led businesses face a significant gap in equity funding, with only 2p of every £1 going to fully female-funded business. This disparity has persisted over the past decade.

Question

For every £1 of equity funding, only 2p goes to fully female-funded business—a figure that has barely shifted in recent years. Closing that gap could unlock up to £250 billion for the UK economy. Will the Minister outline what further steps the Department will take in collaboration with the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade to address that persistent inequality and support female entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses?

Answer from The Minister for Equalities (Seema Malhotra)

My hon. Friend is right; for too long, innovative women-led start-ups have been held back due to a lack of finance, with the proportion of equity capital investment going to all female-founded firms stuck at around 2% in the UK for the last decade. Alongside the invest in women taskforce, the Department for Business and Trade is leading on the investing in women code, and working with finance providers to increase access to finance, resources and networks for women-led businesses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledged the issue but did not provide specific new steps or commitments beyond ongoing initiatives.

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Business & Trade Women & Equalities
Context

Many women in Strangford have started their own businesses but face difficulties in accessing venture capital to support these enterprises.

Question

In my constituency of Strangford, many women have started their own businesses, but there has been a problem in getting access to the finance to make that happen. Venture capital will make that happen. To ensure that ladies and women have the same opportunities as men—just because they are a different sex, does not mean that they are any less able to do the job—will the Minister ensure that venture capital will be available in Northern Ireland, for ladies and women in Strangford and in Northern Ireland?

Answer from The Minister for Equalities (Seema Malhotra)

The funding will be available to women-led businesses in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. It is right that we continue to support the work of the Women’s Business Council and others, and look at all we can do to support women in businesses, and those who are coming forward to start their own enterprises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledged the issue but did not provide concrete details or assurances about specific funding availability for Strangford.

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