Many people dream of leaving a secure job to start a business, but family expectations, mortgage payments, childcare costs and the fear of losing a regular income can make the safe option feel like the only option.

Yet the number of women taking that leap in the UK is rising. The most recent Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, published in 2023, found that women-led businesses contribute an estimated £85 billion a year to the UK economy, with around 1.6 million women-led SMEs in operation. Despite that progress, women still run only about one in five employer businesses, so the decision to leave a secure role remains significant.

This article profiles two UK women who made that choice: Jemima Codrington, a freelance copywriter, and Pip Murray, founder of the nut-butter brand Pip & Nut. Both left jobs that looked successful on paper to follow a passion, and both built businesses that became profitable and purposeful. Their experiences, first shared with Prowess in 2014, still contain useful lessons for anyone considering this move in 2026.

The tipping point

Jemima Codrington’s first love was writing. After cutting her teeth in affiliate marketing, working on campaigns for major sportswear and lifestyle brands, she moved into newspaper publishing. A career highlight came when she interviewed Sir Richard Branson for a feature that was translated and published around the world.

On the surface the role was prestigious, but in practice it was increasingly driven by sales targets rather than editorial work. The more she pushed herself to succeed in an area that did not play to her strengths, the more her stress mounted. Eventually her health began to suffer, and she realised that staying in a job that drained her was the bigger risk.

With support from friends and family, Codrington worked out a short-term safety net: she would take shifts in hospitality to cover her bills while she built a freelance copywriting business. It was a step backwards in income but a step forwards in control.

Risking it all

Pip Murray’s route into entrepreneurship was different. She was working at Sport England and running a personal-training business on the side, a stable career that combined her interests in sport and wellbeing. What she really wanted, however, was to build a food brand that matched her belief in honest, healthy ingredients.

In 2013 she began making nut butter in her kitchen and launched Pip & Nut through a crowdfunding campaign. The response proved there was an appetite for the product, so she left her job to focus on the business full time. With no background in the food industry, the move looked risky to outsiders, but Murray believed that a clean-label, high-protein spread could win shelf space alongside established brands.

That belief paid off. Pip & Nut went on to be stocked by major UK supermarkets and exported internationally, moving far beyond the kitchen table. Murray often credits the same curiosity and willingness to start small that got her there.

What the numbers say now

The landscape for women founders has shifted since these two stories were first told, but the gap remains. According to the 2023 Rose Review, women-led SMEs contribute £85 billion to the UK economy, yet women run only around one in five employer businesses. The British Business Bank has also highlighted that women-founded businesses receive a disproportionately small share of equity investment, although programmes such as the Start Up Loans scheme have helped thousands of women access debt finance.

For anyone planning a move in 2026, that means more peers to learn from, but also more competition for clients, customers and funding.

How to plan leaving a secure job to start a business

If you are considering this transition, a business plan and a financial runway are not optional extras. Calculate your minimum monthly outgoings, build an emergency fund that covers at least three to six months of expenses, and test your idea with real customers before you hand in your notice.

Speak to HMRC or a qualified accountant about the structure that suits you. For 2026/27, the personal allowance remains £12,570, the basic-rate band covers income from £12,571 to £50,270, and the additional rate starts at £125,140. If you expect to turn over more than £85,000 a year, you will also need to register for VAT. Choosing between sole trader and limited company status affects how you pay tax, how you can raise money and how much personal risk you carry. Our guide to sole trader vs limited company explains how Making Tax Digital changes the calculation.

A conversation with a mentor or someone who has already made the leap can help you spot blind spots. You may also find useful support through business grants for women in the UK or local growth hubs.

Thinking big from the start

Another characteristic that helped both founders take the risk was the decision to think big from day one. Codrington positioned herself as a writer for international clients, not just local businesses. Murray designed Pip & Nut for national supermarket listings and export markets, not just farmers’ markets.

Founders who set growth ambitions early are more likely to build momentum: a clear vision shapes the brand, attracts the right partners and makes day-to-day setbacks feel like steps on a longer journey rather than reasons to quit.

The danger is impatience. When growth does not happen as quickly as the vision suggests, it is easy to mistake slow progress for failure. The antidote is to pair ambition with milestones: quarterly revenue targets, product development deadlines and customer feedback loops that keep the business grounded while it reaches.

Building a broad network

Both founders used digital tools to extend their reach far beyond what a traditional start-up budget would allow. Codrington built her early client base through freelance platforms and LinkedIn, turning one-off projects into long-term relationships. Murray used Instagram and crowdfunding to test recipes, build a community and secure early orders before she invested in large-scale production.

Today, technology lowers the barrier to entry for almost every sector. A strong social media presence, a well-designed website and targeted networking can replace expensive advertising and open doors to investors, stockists and collaborators. The key is to choose the channels your customers actually use and to show up consistently.

Practical steps before you leave

• Calculate your minimum monthly outgoings and save three to six months of expenses before you leave.
• Test your product or service with paying customers while you are still employed.
• Choose a legal structure and understand your 2026/27 tax obligations.
• Research funding options, including Start Up Loans and local grants.
• Find a mentor or peer group of women who have made a similar move.

Leaving a secure job to start a business is never entirely without risk, but it does not have to be reckless. With a clear plan, a tested idea and the courage to back yourself, the move from employee to business owner can be the most rewarding career decision you ever make.