Female Entrepreneurship: Call for Evidence

Abstract

What are the barriers facing women, including specific group of women such as those from an ethnic minority background, seeking to start and grow successful business in the UK? Female entrepreneurs in the UK face significant challenges in starting and growing businesses, with financial barriers and limited access to capital being particularly pronounced. Female-led businesses, especially those run by ethnic minority women, struggle to secure funding due to gendered risk perceptions and discriminatory lending practices. These challenges are compounded by cultural expectations, societal norms, and the "double burden" of balancing business ownership with family responsibilities, which often restrict women's full participation in entrepreneurship. The barriers extend beyond financial constraints, encompassing limited access to professional networks, male-oriented business support services, and institutional obstacles. Women entrepreneurs, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, encounter complex regulatory requirements, lack of tailored mentorship, and insufficient institutional support. The impact of economic uncertainties, such as Brexit, further exacerbates these challenges, disproportionately affecting women-led businesses...