International Women’s Day: Female Entrepreneurs Could Add £250 Billion to the UK Economy With Equal Access to Funding and Support

I didn’t plan to become a founder, I fell into it. While I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak, starting a business wasn’t on my radar. Growing up, I didn’t see many female entrepreneurs. And, as the saying goes, you need to see it to believe it.

The barriers to equality for women in business are real. But when we remove those barriers, everyone benefits – society thrives, and the economy grows. It’s a win-win. That’s something we at Lem-uhn, are passionate about addressing.

Why Female Entrepreneurs Still Need International Women’s Day

Some believe International Women’s Day is no longer relevant as women have already achieved equality. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Only one in five new businesses in the UK is started by women. That’s a record high, yet still painfully low when women make up 51% of the population.

The investment gap is even wider. For every £1 of venture capital funding in the UK:

• All-female founding teams receive less than 1p

• Mixed-gender teams receive 10p

• All-male teams receive 89p

Why We Need More Women in Business

We need women-run businesses to improve people’s lives and grow the economy. When women aren’t in the room, their needs aren’t considered. In areas like health tech, innovation for women’s health still lags behind. But when women lead, the solutions become smarter, more human, and more effective.

Female-led startups also outperform. In the US, every $1 invested in female-founded startups returns 78 cents, compared to just 31 cents from male-founded teams.

With equal access to funding and tailored support, female entrepreneurs could contribute £250 billion to the UK economy.

How Lem-uhn Champions Women

At Lem-uhn, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers women both within our agency and in the broader business community. Our initiatives include:

• Flexible Working Policies: Recognising the diverse responsibilities many women juggle, we offer Flexible Fridays, allowing our team to adjust their schedules to better balance work and personal commitments.

• Menstrual Policy: Understanding the impact of menstrual health on work, we provide flexible working solutions and up to ten days' leave for debilitating periods or menopause symptoms, ensuring our team members don't have to choose between their health and careers.

• Representation: Our team includes accomplished women who serve as role models and mentors, fostering a culture where female talent is recognised and nurtured.

• Supporting Female-Led Brands: As a feel-good PR agency, we prioritise collaborations with female-founded businesses, helping to amplify their voices and share their stories with wider audiences.

How Can We Support Women in Business?

True equality in business won’t happen until we have it across the board. I recently spoke to a successful businesswoman who said, “It’s a lie that women can have it all.” But what if we had the right support?

Women still do 60% more unpaid care work than men. Access to free, quality childcare and elder care would allow many more women to grow careers, build businesses, and thrive.

Representation also matters. When we don’t see women as founders, we don’t imagine ourselves as one. And the cycle repeats.

How many male founders can you name? Elon Musk, Steven Bartlett, Mark Zuckerberg... What about female founders? Probably far fewer. We champion female-led brands and help them claim the spotlight they deserve.

Meet a Few Female Founders You Should Know

Whitney Wolfe-Herd – BumbleAfter leaving Tinder following a high-profile harassment case, Whitney launched Bumble in 2014 to give women control over dating. She became the youngest woman to take a company public in the US and later expanded Bumble into business and friendship networking. A truly positive PR story that shows what’s possible when women lead.

Amelia Peckham – Cool Crutches & Walking SticksAfter a quad bike accident left her with a long-term disability, Amelia and her mum created stylish, comfortable alternatives to NHS crutches. Their business proves that innovation rooted in personal experience can drive both impact and revenue. The company was one of our early clients, and we love championing their positive work through PR.

Sophie Dundovic – ParasymSophie co-founded Parasym to develop non-invasive bioelectric therapies, aiming to improve the lives of 1 billion people. Her company exemplifies the kind of purpose-led, high-growth business we proudly support as a small PR agency focused on ethical, feel-good brands.

Let’s Keep Shining a Light on Women in Business

At Lem-uhn, we’re more than a PR agency, we’re part of a movement to make business more inclusive, empathetic, and impactful. We’re also proud members of Female Founders Rise, a platform supporting and amplifying women in business.

As a PR agency that champions underrepresented voices, we believe change happens when women support women and when those stories are told powerfully and positively.

Want to chat? Whether you’re looking for a PR retainer, PR consultancy, influencer or content marketing, our small but mighty agency is experienced in driving growth for startups and scaleups. Are you a female founder who wants to make a splash in the press? Get in touch to learn how you can.