The stagnation facing female-led high-growth businesses

Despite growing awareness of the value female entrepreneurs bring to the economy, the latest figures show that progress remains frustratingly static. Female-led businesses continue to be underrepresented in high-growth sectors, overlooked in government procurement, and excluded from innovation funding at scale. 

The reality is stark: if we continue to do nothing, nothing will change.

High growth remains out of reach

Of more than 914,000 female-led businesses in the UK, only 0.05% are high growth. Male-led businesses, by comparison, have a high-growth rate of 0.1%, twice that figure. 

High-growth companies are more likely to create jobs, attract investment, and contribute to national economic resilience. The gender gap in this space highlights systemic issues, from unequal access to capital and networks, to the design of support systems that continue to favour male-led businesses.

Ten times more public money goes to male-led firms

In the past 12 months, government spending was approximately ten times higher for male-led companies. This level of disparity suggests that the pipeline of opportunity for female-led businesses remains severely constrained.

Without reform this imbalance will persist. And so will the missed opportunity for the government to use its spending power to drive inclusive economic growth.

Female innovators missing out on funding 

Only 0.17% of female-led companies have received Innovate UK grants, less than half the  rate for male-led companies (0.35%). 

Just 4% of female-led businesses are categorised as innovative, compared to 7% of male-led businesses.

Innovation underpins growth, competitiveness, and long-term value. When female founders are excluded from innovation ecosystems, we don’t just lose out on diversity we lose ideas, industries, and economic impact. 

A call to act

The data is conclusive.Year after year, we are witnessing the same patterns. The same underrepresentation. The same missed opportunities. The gap is not closing and unless action is taken, nothing will change.

It’s time to stop expecting change without changing anything. The potential is there. But it will take intentional intervention to make a substantial change.

At The Gender Index, our data provides a uniquely comprehensive view of the UK’s female-led company landscape across sectors, regions, growth stages and funding access. 

For policymakers, investors, researchers and business leaders, these insights offer more than numbers; they reveal where progress is happening, where barriers remain, and where targeted interventions can drive real change. Understanding the full scope of female-led companies is the first step toward unlocking their full potential.