Woman Who: Why supporting women in business is vital
- Eòsaph Macbeth
- May 19
- 5 min read
On Friday May the 8th, Woman Who held their annual Woman Who Live & Achieves Awards with three of our team in attendance. The event is an amazing opportunity to learn from, network with, and be inspired by successful female business leaders.
Female entrepreneurs tend to enter the business world with the deck stacked against them. They typically:
Receive less financial education than men during primary, secondary, and university years
Start full-time work a year later than men (the majority of men are full-time by 23, women by 24)
Earn nearly £10,000 less than a man with an equivalent degree, at the same age. Women with postgraduate business or administrative qualifications can expect to earn roughly 20% less than their male counterparts across their careers
Face greater health challenges across their lives with 16.9% more women experiencing mental health problems in the UK compared to men, and 80% of women experiencing a “pain bias” where their pain levels are dismissed by health professionals
Assume a greater responsibility at home with women on average spending 12 hours each week on domestic work, compared to just 7 hours for men
Experience a “Motherhood Penalty” with women’s average monthly earnings falling by 42% in the first five years of motherhood, increasing the gender pay gap as they try to find their way back into the workforce.
The trend continues at home too.
Starling Bank research reveals a "gender play gap" where girls receive 20% less pocket money, fostering early financial literacy disparities. Girls are more often paid for "homemaking" chores, while boys are paid for chores related to financial literacy and academic performance.
Ultimately, female entrepreneurs and business owners can enter the market, far more mentally exhausted than men, with a far greater level of responsibility in their personal lives, less free time to invest into growing their business, and more limited savings to invest in their new venture.
This is why female-focused events like Woman Who are vital. They offer women access to a like-minded community that can help them access the resources and support needed to try and rebalance the scales.
Read on to learn about the Woman Who event, what our staff experienced, and a few ways we’re working to empower women in business here at First Enterprise.
Woman Who hosted a lavish event with guest panels, exhibition stands, and opportunities to network over lunch
The event started bright and early at 9am with registration and morning refreshments. There was a welcome from founder Sandra Garlick MBE and guest speakers Dr Seema Shah and businesswoman Jaya Narinesingh.
By 10am, over 100 women had showed up to browse the exhibitor stands, including our First Enterprise stall (wo)-manned by our Business Advisors Rosa Iskandar and Kimberley Stanley (who recently celebrated a well-deserved promotion).
A few of the key events across the day included:
A facilitated networking session sponsored by Sales Training with Enfys
A guest panel including motivational speaker Kayleigh Greenacre, podcaster Sophie Foote, Sales Training owner Enfys Maloney, and our very own Deputy Director Danielle Davis
An Awards ceremony celebrating women’s achievement in business.
Kimberley said of the event: “It was a really positive atmosphere. I got to meet lots of really powerful female business owners and hear their stories. It felt like a really well organised event with plenty of opportunities to network and get to know people.
“I came away feeling really good about not just the business support we were able to provide, but also how the women in attendance genuinely wanted to help each other. For example, I met a lovely math tutor, who gave me a copy of her book to help my own daughter with her GCSE studies.”
Meanwhile, Rosa said: “Attending the Woman Who event was a truly inspiring experience. Being surrounded by so many accomplished, driven women in business reminded me just how empowering it is to be in a room full of people who genuinely champion one another.
“It was a wonderful reminder to celebrate not just the achievements of others, but my own too, and to keep stepping forward with confidence."
As one of many inspiring business leaders at the event, our own Danielle Davis was able to provide important insights to help female entrepreneurs succeed.
During her panel, she spoke in length about the role Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) play in providing alternative funding options, access to valuable resources, and much-needed 1-on-1 support.
Danielle said of the Woman Who event:
“It was really inspirational hearing from all these driven, successful women in business. I also appreciate the opportunity to speak at these events and share my insights on how CDFIs can really help female-owned businesses source much-needed funding and ongoing support.”
Women in business face many obstacles; the right support can help overcome them
Female SME ownership is on the rise in the UK, especially among the younger 18-to-25 demographic. Women-led businesses now represent nearly 1 in 5 of UK SMEs. Yet, many of these women have to navigate a challenging marketplace that has only worsened due to recent global events.
Female entrepreneurs in the UK report that:
41% of young female business owners have had their financial situation worsen since 2024 (compared to just 27% of young men)
39% found that running a business last year (2025) had been tougher than the previous year (2024)
More than 50% worked longer hours across 2025 than they had the previous year with around 25% taking on a second job to help stay afloat.
These problems are compounded by the fact that many women in business don’t know where to look for reliable, professional guidance and support.
1 in 5 female entrepreneurs are unaware of or have not used a business support system or government-backed scheme to help grow their business. In fact, only 38%, say they’ve been able to access the right support to help their business succeed.
The right support can help you:
Access business resources to help with any education-gaps that might affect your ability to successfully run your business
Gain tailored, 1-on-1 advice that takes into account your personal story and circumstances
Apply for the funding necessary to overcome short-term obstacles or build towards long-term growth.
CDFIs, like First Enterprise, are perfectly positioned to address these needs. Empowering women in business lies at the heart of what we do, as we seek to help traditionally underrepresented and marginalised business owners, and provide them with the support needed to succeed.
Want to explore how funding can help your business? Get in touch today!
If you’re a female business owner looking to grow your business or overcome short-term problems that are getting in the way of your long-term success, accessing funding could be the solution.
Our team of Business Advisors, like Rosa and Kimberley, and Investment Managers are here to guide you through your application journey, so that when you make the final decision to loan funds, you’ll be doing so confident that it’s the right decision for your business.
Get in touch today to discuss your story and your finance needs. The first step is simple: complete the enquiry form below or give us a call at 0345 602 7355.
The playing field may not be level yet, but together, we can keep building a business community where every woman has the opportunity to succeed.
