Empowering women founders: OU informs Parliament’s call

The Women and Equalities Select Committee has recently published its final report on female entrepreneurship, calling for urgent action to tackle deep-rooted gender inequalities in business funding, mentorship and enterprise support. Evidence submitted by The Open University (OU) was among those considered by the Committee, drawing attention to the University’s innovative work in supporting women founders through initiatives such as the Open Business Creators (OBC) scheme.

The Committee’s report identifies persistent barriers preventing women from starting and scaling businesses, including limited access to networks, mentoring, and investment opportunities, and highlights systemic bias in funding decisions. It describes how women’s projects are often undervalued by majority-male investment panels and how funding requirements, such as match-funding, disadvantage those already struggling to secure capital.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for a new Female Enterprise Investment Scheme to encourage private investment in women-led businesses, alongside reforms to Innovate UK’s funding processes to ensure equity in access. It also urges the Government to embed enterprise and financial literacy into education, helping to build a diverse and confident pipeline of future entrepreneurs.

Importantly, the report highlights the lack of regional opportunities for female founders outside the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge. It recommends a large-scale national programme to provide mentorship, coaching, and investment connections to women across all regions and sectors, a vision that aligns closely with the OU’s own mission to widen participation and access.

In its evidence to the Committee, the OU showcased the Open Business Creators (OBC) initiative — delivered in partnership with NatWest — as a model for inclusive, practical support that empowers women and underrepresented entrepreneurs across the UK. The OBC programme combines grant funding of up to £2,500, expert mentoring, and structured enterprise learning through the Validate platform, helping participants to turn ideas into viable ventures.

The OBC scheme is currently open for applications from women across the UK until 21 November 2025, with winners announced in December. By blending business education, coaching, and funding, it directly addresses many of the barriers identified in the Committee’s report — helping to create a stronger, fairer and more diverse entrepreneurial landscape. In addition, the fund is open to anyone who identifies as a woman (and is aged over 16) from across the UK, addressing the need for national programmes.

Chaitali Patel, who leads the OBC programme said, “The Committee’s findings reinforce what we see through our own research and engagement; that women’s entrepreneurial potential is vast, but too often limited by structural inequities. Through initiatives like OBC, The Open University is proud to be part of the solution, enabling women everywhere to gain the skills, confidence and support to succeed.”

Find out more about, and apply for, the Open Business Creators scheme