Championing Change: Supporting Female Angel Investing at the House of Lords
This past December, I had the honour of being invited to the House of Lords for a reception hosted by the Invest in Women Taskforce, celebrating the launch of a powerful and much-needed report on female angel investing across the UK.
Set against the backdrop of one of Britain’s most historic institutions, the event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers to discuss one of the most urgent issues in the investment landscape today: gender disparity in access to capital.
The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
According to data revealed in the report, just 1.8% (£145 million) of all equity investment in the UK went to female-founded businesses in the first half of 2024. That figure represents a disturbing decline and underscores just how much work remains to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs.
The report focuses on three key areas to help unlock the potential of women in angel investing:
Tackling regional disparities in angel activity, with strategies to expand women-led investments across the UK.
Understanding the role of angel syndicates and investor groups in diversifying the flow of capital.
Enhancing education and training, to equip more women with the confidence and knowledge to become active investors themselves.
A Commitment For Meaningful Change
The good news? The Taskforce isn’t just talking — it’s backing its mission with real capital. With support from institutions like Barclays, M&G, Aviva, British Business Bank, Visa Foundation, BGF, and Morgan Stanley, the Invest in Women Taskforce has secured £255 million (more than €300 million) to support female entrepreneurs — exceeding its original goal of £250 million.
This funding marks the largest ever capital pool dedicated to women-powered businesses in the world. And it signals a serious commitment to systemic change.
Under the leadership of co-chairs Hannah Bernard OBE, Head of Business Banking at Barclays, and Debbie Wosskow, a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits under her belt, the Taskforce has momentum — and muscle.
A special shoutout to Jenny Tooth OBE, whose tireless work to grow angel investment networks for women over the past decade helped lay the foundation for this important milestone.
More Than Just Money
But the mission doesn’t stop with funding. The Taskforce is also focused on expanding the pool of women angel investors and promoting micro-funding initiatives that can dramatically improve access to capital at the earliest stages.
To support this, a new Ecosystem Working Group has been formed, dedicated to improving the broader environment for women-led businesses. From mentorship to media visibility, policy to partnerships — the goal is to remove the barriers that prevent women from starting, funding, and scaling impactful ventures.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re a female entrepreneur looking for funding, or a potential angel investor curious about how to get involved, I encourage you to visit investinwomentaskforce.org.
And if you’re a founder hoping to raise brand awareness through the press, my team would love to hear from you directly. At Ecology Media, we are deeply passionate about amplifying diverse voices and believe that the best businesses are those that reflect the world we live in — dynamic, inclusive, and innovative.
This initiative is a massive step forward. But the journey is far from over. We need more capital, more visibility, and more allies — and that includes you.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Our future depends on it.
