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What is The Gender Index?
Mapping the impact of female-led companies on the UK economy is crucial for a stronger, more inclusive economy. Yet, a freely available tool to measure their number, potential, and support their growth has been lacking.
Enter our groundbreaking data source, which benchmarks female entrepreneur activity and spotlights the gender gap in entrepreneurship. Join us in using this free data to empower women and bridge the divide.
How does it work?
Our AI-powered tool is one-of-a-kind, mapping all 4.5+ million active UK companies in real-time. With customizable search options, explore insights by gender, sector, investment type, ethnic minority leadership, and more.
Track progress, growth, and trends by various criteria instantly. All the data you need is right at your fingertips.
Who is it for?
Whether you're a female founder seeking growth, a policymaker, journalist, educator, corporate entity, or investor, we've got you covered.
The Gender Index is freely accessible and open for use. Download our annual reports or craft and distribute your customized reports to spark dialogue, ideas, and policy actions. Together, let's propel towards a more equitable future.
The national picture
AI Summary: The national picture shows a mixed trend in female-led companies over the last 12 months. England and Wales experienced a slight increase in percentage, while Northern Ireland saw a significant growth of 0.62%. Scotland remained relatively stable with a minimal decline in female-led companies.
Nation
% female-led*
% change**
England
19.09%
-0.16%
Northern Ireland
17.60%
0.62%
Scotland
17.87%
-0.01%
Wales
18.33%
0.06%
*Active UK companies
**previous 12 months
Female incorporations vs closures over the last 12 months
AI Summary: Female company incorporations have shown a steady increase over the last 12 months, with a peak in April 2024. However, company closures have fluctuated, reaching a high in October 2024. Overall, there is a positive trend in incorporations and a need to address closures for sustainable growth.
Generational shift through gender
AI Summary: A generational shift is evident in companies, with Millennials and Generation X showing a steady increase in female-led companies, while Boomers and Silent generation see a decline. Male-led companies still dominate, but the trend is gradually shifting towards gender diversity.
Active UK company generation analysis
Investment into active female-led companies
AI Summary: Investment into active female-led companies in the last 12 months saw a growth in Angel investments at 5.36%, while Venture capital and Private Equity investments experienced a decline at 4.91% and 3.81% respectively. Other types of investments also increased by 7.90%, indicating a shifting trend towards alternative funding sources.
Investment type
No. of investments*
Percentage**
Venture capital
74
4.91%
Private Equity
18
3.81%
Angel
3.01K
5.36%
Other
1.1K
7.90%
*Last 12 months**of all investments
5.2%
Increase in the number of active ethnic minority female-led companies across the UK over the last 12 months
Ethnicity across the UK
AI Summary: There has been a 5.2% growth in ethnic minority female-led companies in the last 12 months, with a total of 437,255 companies compared to 415,632 in the previous 12 months. This indicates a positive trend in the growth of diversity and inclusion in business leadership.
Female-led sector analysis
AI Summary: Female-led companies in Health, wellbeing and social care sector show the highest growth at 39.58%, while Arts, entertainment and recreation sector experience the lowest at 23.94%. Education sector follows with 35.75% growth. On the contrary, Energy suppliers sector has the lowest female-led companies at 6.16%, with Construction sector at 7.92% and Mining and quarrying at 9.66%.
Top 5 female-led sectors
%*
Health, wellbeing and social care
39.50%
Education
35.70%
Public health and safety services
33.70%
Service sector
31.30%
Arts, entertainment and recreation
23.90%
Bottom 5 female-led sectors
%*
Energy suppliers
6.10%
Construction
7.90%
Mining and quarrying
9.60%
Financial services
10.40%
Water and waste services
10.80%
*Percentage of Female-led companies
International trade
AI Summary: In international trade, companies led by females account for approximately 12.8% of active importers and 12.4% of active exporters in the UK. The trend shows a slight increase in female-led companies involved in trade, although the majority are still non-female-led.
Secured debt gender analysis
AI Summary: Gender analysis of secured debt in companies shows a 14.22% share by female-led companies, 60.68% by male-led companies, and 25.1% by other companies. Trends indicate a slight increase in female-led companies and a decrease in male-led companies.
Percentage of active companies with secured debt
14.2%
Female-led
60.7%
Male-led
25.1%
Other
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