Finding women-friendly business support UK

Since 2001, Prowess has championed women in business across the UK. This directory helps female founders, freelancers and business owners find advice, mentoring, training and finance close to home.

The interactive map is currently offline while we refresh provider data and rebuild a reliable, accessible version. In the meantime, this page lists the main types of women-friendly business support available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We have grouped providers by the same colour-coded categories used on the original map, so you can quickly see whether a service is local, national or finance-focused.

Why women-focused support still matters

Women run a growing share of UK businesses, yet access to advice, networks and funding remains uneven. According to Women in Business: Key UK Facts, ONS labour market data from 2024 shows around 1.5 million women were self-employed in the UK. The British Business Bank’s 2024 Small Business Finance Markets report found that women-led companies still receive a small share of UK equity investment. The 2019 Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, updated in 2023, estimated that closing the entrepreneurship gender gap could add up to £250 billion to the UK economy.

Targeted support can help bridge that gap. The organisations below understand the specific barriers women face, from caring responsibilities and confidence gaps to uneven access to finance and networks.

Main categories of women-friendly support

• Pink – women-focused local providers and networks: organisations whose core mission is to support women in business in a specific town, city or region.
• Yellow – national female-focused programmes: UK-wide membership bodies, campaigns, training programmes and resources aimed at women entrepreneurs.
• Blue – mainstream local business support with a women-friendly track record: Growth Hubs, councils, chambers and enterprise agencies that actively support female founders.
• Green – business finance providers: lenders, investors, grant-makers and crowdfunding platforms with a record of backing women-led businesses.
• Purple – limited local provision: organisations we have included in areas where little else is available. We recommend checking their current offer before signing up.

Please treat this as a starting point. Services change, funding rounds open and close, and local provision can vary from one postcode to the next. Always confirm details directly with the provider.

National female-focused programmes (yellow)

These UK-wide organisations offer online and in-person support for women at every stage of business, from first idea to scaling up:

• Prowess.org.uk – our own free resource hub, with articles, guides and signposting for women in business.
• Everywoman – a membership network providing training, events, awards and leadership resources for women in enterprise and corporate roles.
• The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) – a long-standing membership organisation that connects women business owners with peer support and international networks.
• Female Entrepreneur Association – an online community and magazine offering inspiration, training and practical tools for female founders.
• Forward Ladies – a national network running events, awards and leadership programmes for businesswomen.
• Women in Business Network (WIBN) – local networking groups across the UK with a structured, referral-focused format.
• Blooming Founders – a community and events platform for early-stage female founders.
• Hatch Enterprise – programmes for underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, social entrepreneurs and founders from lower-income backgrounds.
• The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme – support for young people aged 18 to 30, including women, to start and grow a business.

Regional women-focused providers (pink)

Several organisations focus on specific nations or city regions. Examples include:

• Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) – the leading authority on women-led business in Scotland, offering research, resources and connections.
• Women in Business NI – Northern Ireland’s main network for female entrepreneurs, with training, mentoring and events.
• Chwarae Teg – a Welsh charity working to support women in the workplace and in enterprise.
• The Women’s Organisation – based in Liverpool and active across the North West, providing start-up support, training and finance advice for women.

Mainstream local business support with a women-friendly track record (blue)

Sometimes the best support is on your doorstep. These mainstream services are funded or regulated to help all local businesses, but many run women-specific initiatives, mentoring circles or networking events:

• Local Growth Hubs (England) – government-funded business support services hosted by local authorities, universities or chambers of commerce. They can signpost you to grants, mentoring, training and specialist advisers. Search for your nearest hub via your local council or combined authority website.
• Business Gateway (Scotland) – free advice, workshops and digital resources for Scottish businesses, with dedicated support for women-led enterprises.
• Business Wales – advice, mentoring and start-up support, including women in business programmes and digital support.
• Invest Northern Ireland – the regional economic development agency offering support, funding and training for Northern Ireland businesses.
• Local councils and libraries – many run enterprise events, co-working taster sessions and business advice surgeries.
• Chambers of Commerce and FSB branches – local business membership organisations that frequently host women in business groups and networking events.

Business finance providers (green)

Female founders still raise less external finance than male counterparts, and women-led businesses remain underrepresented in UK equity investment. The following providers and initiatives are widely recognised for supporting women-led businesses:

• British Business Bank – the government-owned development bank publishes guides on finance for female entrepreneurs and manages schemes such as Start Up Loans.
• Start Up Loans Company – government-backed personal loans of up to £25,000 for people starting or scaling a business, with free mentoring included. See our Start Up Loans guide for female founders for eligibility and application tips.
• Investing in Women Code – a commitment by banks, investors and lenders to improve women entrepreneurs’ access to finance. Check the public list of signatories to find finance providers that have pledged to collect and act on gender-disaggregated data.
• Angel investment and venture capital – networks such as the UK Business Angels Association and sector-focused funds can be a route to equity finance. A growing number of women-led and women-focused funds are also emerging.
• Crowdfunding – reward-based platforms such as Crowdfunder UK and equity crowdfunding platforms can help women-led businesses raise capital while building a customer base.
• Responsible and ethical lenders – organisations such as Triodos Bank, The Co-operative Bank and community development finance institutions (CDFIs) often have strong track records with underrepresented founders.

Women’s business networks across the UK

Peer support can be just as valuable as formal advice. Our separate guide to women in business networks highlights organisations that run local meetings, online communities and industry-specific groups across the UK. Whether you are looking for referrals, accountability partners or simply a conversation with someone who understands the journey, a network can make a real difference.

How to choose the right support

With so many options, it is worth being clear about what you need before you reach out. Ask yourself:

• Do I need start-up advice, growth mentoring, training, finance or peer support?
• Would I prefer face-to-face help in my area, or online support I can access anywhere?
• Is the service free, grant-funded or fee-paying, and are there any eligibility criteria?
• Does the provider have recent experience of helping businesses like mine?

If a service is not the right fit, ask the adviser to recommend an alternative. Good providers will signpost you elsewhere rather than sell you something unsuitable.

Help us keep this directory reliable

We rely on feedback from women in business to keep this resource accurate and useful. If you know of an organisation that should be listed, or if your experience of a listed provider has changed, please email [email protected]. Tell us the organisation name, the area it covers and why you would recommend it (or why you would not).

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Next steps to access support

Women-friendly business support UK is more accessible than ever, but the right option depends on your stage, sector and location. Start with one national programme or your local Growth Hub, then build peer support through a network. If finance is the priority, check Start Up Loans and the Investing in Women Code signatories before approaching lenders.