New- Investing in Women Code Annual Report 2026
Research published today shows that women entrepreneurs have received a greater proportion of funding from Investing in Women Code signatories than the wider market
The report shows:
- Investing in Women Code signatories have outperformed the wider market in supporting female founders for six years in a row
- More than 330 organisations are now signed up to the government-backed initiative, up from just 12 in 2019
- Signatories are directing more capital to diverse teams, demonstrating that backing a broader range of entrepreneurs is good for business and growth
Women entrepreneurs are driving some of the UK’s most exciting businesses, and the organisations backing them are continuing to outperform the wider market.
For the sixth consecutive year, signatories of the Investing in Women Code have directed a greater proportion of funding to female-founded businesses than the wider market, reflecting a shared recognition that backing women is not only the right thing to do, but the most economically sound thing to do.
The Code, a government-backed commitment to improve access to finance for women-led businesses, has grown from just 12 signatories in 2019 to more than 330 organisations today, including most major UK retail banks, venture capital firms, angel investors, and lenders. New signatories in 2026 include Nationwide and Innovate UK.
The findings, published today [8 July] as part of the Code’s annual report, come as Government works to unlock the UK’s full entrepreneurial potential by ensuring talented founders can access the finance they need to start and scale businesses, regardless of gender.
