Women in Business

New Scale-Up Programme for Women Founders to Launch in 2027 as British Business Bank Doubles Women-Led Commitments to £200m

The government will launch a scale-up programme for women founders of high-growth businesses in 2027 and is developing a voluntary Inclusive Investment Standard for investors, it said on 29 October 2026. The British Business Bank has doubled planned commitments to women-led businesses and funds to £200 million.

By Entrepreneur Group · Published 1 November 2026

The government will launch a new scale-up programme for women founders of high-growth businesses in 2027, it announced on 29 October 2026, the day after the Budget. It is also developing a voluntary Inclusive Investment Standard to tackle bias in how investors fund businesses, while the British Business Bank has doubled its planned commitments to women-led businesses and funds from £100 million to £200 million.

The government says only 2p of every £1 invested in UK venture capital goes to women-founded businesses.

The scale-up women's programme

The Treasury's Budget 2026 entrepreneurship prospectus describes "a new scale-up women's programme to help women founders overcome barriers to fundraising and growth."

According to the government's announcement, the programme will:

• launch in 2027;
• target women founders of high-growth businesses;
• potentially include workshops, peer learning, networking and introductions to investors.

Eligibility, how to apply and who will deliver it have not yet been published.

The Inclusive Investment Standard

The government's Women in Tech Taskforce is developing two voluntary standards with industry.

• The Inclusive Investment Standard is aimed at investors. Possible commitments include broadening how deals are sourced and tracking women-led businesses from pitch through to the funding decision.
• The Tech Forward Standard is aimed at tech employers and covers workplace culture, with possible commitments such as trusted routes for reporting harassment.

BT, Revolut, Sage, Balderton Capital and Octopus Ventures are early ambassadors. Both standards will be formally launched "in the coming months", and the taskforce will reconvene in November.

The government says enabling women to found and grow businesses at the same rate as men "could unlock £310 billion for the economy."

£200 million from the British Business Bank

WeAreTheCity reports that the Budget doubled the British Business Bank's planned commitments to women-led businesses and investment funds from £100 million to £200 million. It says the Bank has already committed over £130 million this year, with a further £100 million planned for the next financial year. Business Matters also reported the doubling to £200 million.

This money is invested through businesses and funds rather than given to founders as grants. The Bank's own announcement could not be opened when this article was prepared.

Other support in the Budget

The prospectus says the government will "shortly pilot" a Young Entrepreneurs Allowance to support young founders with their living costs during the first year of their business. Details have not been published.

Other Budget measures apply to all founders, including a 10% Capital Gains Tax rate on up to £10 million of lifetime gains under Founders' Relief and the £3,000 trading allowance, both from April 2027.

What women founders can do now

This section is editorial guidance, not investment advice.

• Register interest early. Watch GOV.UK and the British Business Bank for the programme's eligibility rules, which are likely to favour businesses already showing high growth.
• Ask investors about the standard. Once it launches, asking a fund whether it has signed the Inclusive Investment Standard is a simple way to judge its commitment.
• Look at funds that already back women-led businesses. Our coverage of the Investing in Women Code and the Diverse Angel Syndicate Programme covers routes that are open now.

Frequently asked questions

When does the scale-up programme for women founders start?

The government says the scale-up women's programme will launch in 2027. Eligibility and application details have not yet been published.

What is the Inclusive Investment Standard?

It is a voluntary standard for investors being developed by the Women in Tech Taskforce. Possible commitments include broadening deal sourcing and tracking women-led businesses from pitch to funding decision.

How much is the British Business Bank committing to women-led businesses?

Reports of the Budget say the British Business Bank has doubled its planned commitments to women-led businesses and funds from £100 million to £200 million.

Sources

1. GOV.UK: Government and industry to take on investment bias and workplace culture to support more women in tech (29 October 2026) (reviewed 1 November 2026)
2. HM Treasury: Entrepreneurship in the UK, Budget 2026 prospectus (October 2026) (reviewed 1 November 2026)
3. WeAreTheCity: Budget 2026, a significant step forward for women in technology and female founders (29 October 2026) (reviewed 1 November 2026)
4. Business Matters: British Business Bank women-led backing doubled to £200m (31 October 2026) (reviewed 1 November 2026)