Despite years of discussion and incremental initiatives, the UK’s venture capital ecosystem remains stubbornly imbalanced. The issue’s urgency is clear: just 2p of every £1 in VC funding goes to female-founded businesses, and only 13% of senior VC investment professionals are women. The economic cost is immense — research shows that up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men. The British Business Bank (BBB) is determined to change this.
Earlier this week, it announced the launch of its Emerging Female Investor Open Office Hours, a new initiative designed to break down barriers for emerging and potential female investors, including female angels, general partners, and fund managers.
Behind the British Business Bank initiative: Demystifying the path for female investors
The Open Office Hours initiative offers remote, informal drop-in sessions, giving women direct access to the Bank’s equity teams. The aim is to provide a welcoming space for questions, clarity on application requirements, and confidence before entering the Bank’s formal equity programme pipeline.
In an exclusive conversation with TFN, a British Business Bank spokesperson underscores the Bank’s unwavering commitment: “The British Business Bank is committed to unlocking growth by ensuring entrepreneurs can access the finance they need, regardless of where and who they are. We are expanding access to funding for female entrepreneurs and will invest £50m into female-led funds through our existing programmes. This investment will support the aims of the Invest in Women Taskforce, an industry-led, government-backed initiative committed to increasing finance for female entrepreneurs.”
Christine Hockley, Managing Director & Co-Head of Funds at the Bank, adds: “There are still many barriers to be tackled, but the British Business Bank is committed to growing the pipeline of new female investors applying to its programmes. By offering an open and informal space, we want to give emerging female talent the tools and insights to succeed and make it easier for new entrants to break into venture capital.”
Beyond funding: Building an inclusive investment ecosystem
The Office Hours are just one part of a broader, government-backed strategy. The UK government’s recent Industrial Strategy announced a £2.6 billion capital commitment to drive the growth of smaller businesses across the UK’s nations and regions. Three major measures specifically target underrepresented founders, including women:
- Expanding the Regional Angels Programme: Addressing regional imbalances in early-stage equity and support for smaller businesses.
- Growing Diverse Angel Networks: Through new Angel Syndicate Support and Embracing Diversity programmes, the Bank is bringing in more underrepresented angel investors to back early-stage companies and ensuring founders from all backgrounds have access to capital.
- Launching the Investor Pathway Capital Programme: Supporting diverse and emerging fund managers and making it easier for new entrants, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to break into venture capital.
The Bank is also a founding signatory of the Investing in Women Code, now with over 280 signatories, and has established a majority-female ‘Invest in Women Committee’ to advise on capital allocation.
Recent investments in female-led fund managers, such as Blume Equity, Thena Capital, and Revaia, underscore the Bank’s commitment. Its Start Up Loans programme has delivered 40% of loans to women, 19% to people from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, and 30% to people who were previously unemployed.
Will this be the tipping point?
How will success be measured? The Bank is clear: “The Emerging Female Investor Office Hours initiative is part of a range of investments and non-financial activities undertaken by the British Business Bank to support female investors and founders. Through our work with the Invest in Women Taskforce, we have listened to the female investor and entrepreneur community and are acting on their feedback. This initiative will deliver pre-application drop-in sessions, connecting potential or emerging female investors with members of the Bank’s equity teams. It will enable them to seek clarity on the process and provide confidence before entering the programme’s formal application funnel.”
Progress on the £50m investment in female-led funds will be reported as part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to the Invest in Women Taskforce.
But the Bank’s ambitions go further: “We value the diversity of businesses that we support and are committed to doing everything in our power to help them flourish and grow. Aligned with our ESG strategy, we support major EDI initiatives in the Venture Capital industry and set market standards for our delivery partners. To reflect our external ambition internally, we have a progressive EDI strategy focused on creating a workplace where everybody feels included and supported, where diversity is celebrated, and all colleagues can be their true selves at work.”
The road ahead for British Business Bank: A new era or more of the same?
The real test will be whether these initiatives lead to more women as decision-makers and, ultimately, more capital for female founders. The Bank’s approach, combining capital, practical support, and ecosystem-building, signals a move beyond rhetoric to actionable change.
Yet, as the sector watches closely, the question lingers: Is this the tipping point for gender equity in UK venture capital, or will the barriers prove more resilient than anticipated? The answer will shape the future of female investors and the broader trajectory of UK innovation and growth.
