This year’s Women Mean Business event, to be held at the British Museum in London on 23 November 2022, will focus on the future of female entrepreneurship. Senior business leaders and key industry figures in attendance include NatWest CEO Alison Rose, The Telegraph’s executive lifestyle editor Caroline Barrett-Haigh and deputy head of lifestyle Tory Young, as well as Federation of Small Business director Sandra Garlick MBE and Sonu Bubna, co-founder and CEO of Shopper.com, to name but a few of the high-profile attendees.
Visitors to the Women Mean Business event will have the opportunity to join expert-led workshops – with practical tips on achieving business goals, scaling up and finance. There will be mentoring classes, panel discussions, a chance to participate in ‘fireside chats’, as well as keynote speakers and networking with inspirational female entrepreneurs from the business community.
Driving change: Alison Rose is CEO of NatWest Group
Credit: Alamy
In 2018, The Telegraph launched the Women Mean Business campaign to tackle the lack of funding awarded to female business founders – only 9pc of whom were given venture capital funding, according to The Telegraph.
Since its launch, there has been considerable progress, and while there is still a lot to achieve, more than 140,000 companies were established by female entrepreneurs last year – more than double the number in 2019, according to the Rose Review, which is named after its author, NatWest CEO Alison Rose.
“We have also seen a circa 17pc increase in Female Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) since 2018,” says Rose, citing figures from her Review of Female Entrepreneurship Progress Report 2022. “Everything we are doing as a collective is designed to accelerate that change,” she adds. “We are beginning to see a cultural shift. Entrepreneurs, investors and the government have made clear that they will not stand by while women enjoy fewer opportunities than men.
Press for progress: more women than ever have been starting their own businesses
Credit: Getty
“Data shows that more women than ever are starting new businesses and we must harness this potential. That means more financial institutions committing to delivering change and funding. We also need more direct support for businesses across the UK and we must propose fresh, imaginative solutions to the challenges posed by women’s caring responsibilities.”
100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch
Are you a UK-based female entrepreneur? The Telegraph and NatWest have launched 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch, which will celebrate women who are redefining success and helping others. Share your entrepreneurial journey for the chance to receive a £10,000 grant and expert mentoring to help elevate your business to the next level. Plus, you’ll also feature in our list of 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch.
All entrants will also receive a two-year digital subscription to The Telegraph.
Enter now »
NatWest is dedicated to helping women succeed in business. To find out more, visit natwest.com
Credit: Source link