The Women Powering Decarbonisation in the UK

Decarbonisation is a vital process in the fight against climate change, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes, energy production, and daily life. The UK’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and international efforts like the Paris Agreement highlight the urgency of transitioning to sustainable practices.

While this progress often relies on large-scale initiatives, a less celebrated but equally important narrative is the role of women entrepreneurs and leaders in advancing decarbonisation efforts.

Despite the underrepresentation of women in industries like energy, transportation, and manufacturing, many female founders are pioneering innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.

This article shines a spotlight on the women and companies redefining the path to net zero, celebrating their contributions across diverse sectors—from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to cutting-edge technology.

What is decarbonisation?

Decarbonisation refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, primarily those resulting from human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes. It is a critical strategy in addressing climate change, aiming to help societies transition toward low-carbon or net-zero emissions.

Why is decarbonisation important?

Decarbonisation is essential for limiting global warming globally. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C—as called for in the Paris Agreement—emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

The UK’s Net Zero Strategy was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government. It states that the UK will hit net carbon zero by 2050, and to do this outlines a number of policies and proposals for decarbonising all industries across the UK.

At COP28 held in the UAE last year, nations finalised the inaugural global assessment of climate policies under the 2015 Paris Agreement, a process referred to as the global stocktake (GST). This milestone agreement included commitments to significantly expand renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it by 2030.

Countries also pledged to equitably shift away from fossil fuels in energy systems, aligning with the 2015 Paris Agreement’s objectives.

And while we may not have seen any significant progress for battling climate change in the recent COP29, the commitment to tripling renewable energy capacity remains. The UK and German governments also issued a joint declaration of cooperation on energy and climate, focusing on hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable energy in the North Sea.

Governments, businesses, and individuals all play a role in advancing decarbonisation efforts through policy, innovation, and sustainable practices.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, we listed 50 of the UK’s top female entrepreneurs, by total equity raised.

Key elements of decarbonisation

Decarbonisation is essential for limiting global warming globally. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C—as called for in the Paris Agreement—emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

The UK’s Net Zero Strategy was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government. It states that the UK will hit net carbon zero by 2050, and to do this outlines a number of policies and proposals for decarbonising all industries across the UK.

At COP28 held in the UAE last year, nations finalised the inaugural global assessment of climate policies under the 2015 Paris Agreement, a process referred to as the global stocktake (GST). This milestone agreement included commitments to significantly expand renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it by 2030.

Countries also pledged to equitably shift away from fossil fuels in energy systems, aligning with the 2015 Paris Agreement’s objectives.

And while we may not have seen any significant progress for battling climate change in the recent COP29, the commitment to tripling renewable energy capacity remains. The UK and German governments also issued a joint declaration of cooperation on energy and climate, focusing on hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable energy in the North Sea.

Governments, businesses, and individuals all play a role in advancing decarbonisation efforts through policy, innovation, and sustainable practices.

Energy transition

Shifting from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.

Energy efficiency

Improving energy use in buildings, industries, and transportation to reduce overall emissions.

Electrification

Replacing processes powered by fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources, such as transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) or electric heating systems.

Behavioural changes

Encouraging shifts in consumption habits, such as reducing meat consumption, increasing public transportation use, or adopting sustainable practices.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

This involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions at their source—such as power plants or industrial facilities—and storing them underground to prevent atmospheric release.

At Beauhurst, we’ve introduced a new buzzword for carbon capture, allowing you to easily search and explore projects, companies, and innovations in this critical area of sustainability.

If you’re already a subscriber, try it for yourself by clicking the button below.

Women and decarbonisation

The companies we see at the forefront of any industry, particularly those in transport, energy and manufacturing, tend to be male-founded. In fact, when we look across companies that hit one or more of our environmental signals, we can see that a huge 81.4% have all male founders, with an extra 3.8% being majority male founded. Only 6.5% are all-female founded.

While this may be unsurprising, we see this generally across our data for all industries. For example if we look at all companies with an ‘active’ status on Companies House, we can see that just 17.2% of founders are female, compared to 82% male founders.

With this in mind, we wanted to take the time to celebrate some of the companies pushing net zero that are specifically founded by women.

A chat with Georgia Smith about the electric vehicle industry

As part of our look into women powering decarbonisation, we spoke to Georgia Smith from Virta about the UK’s electric vehicle industry.

Founded in Helsinki in 2013, Virta is a global pioneer in developing smart electric vehicle
charging services. The company was ranked on the Financial Times 1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list for the fifth time in a row in 2024.

“The UK’s electric vehicle industry is fascinating because it represents a blend of contrasts. Traditionally, the automotive sector has been heavily male-dominated, both in terms of workforce data and public perception, which can make it intimidating for women to enter. At the same time, the EV industry is newer and rapidly growing, offering fresh opportunities in decarbonisation—a field that has historically attracted significant interest from women.

This creates a unique dynamic, where an older, male-dominated tradition intersects with a forward-thinking, green industry. There’s definitely space for women to engage and lead, helping to drive the decarbonisation agenda forward.”

“For me, joining the EV industry is about wanting to make a meaningful difference in the renewable energy sector. Unlike traditional car companies, even those transitioning to electric vehicles, the EV industry is already deeply focused on sustainability. It’s a complex ecosystem, with manufacturers, charger producers, software companies like Virta, and installation and maintenance providers all working together.

While women are still underrepresented, especially in manufacturing and installation, there seems to be greater inclusion in software and data-focused roles, likely because those jobs align better with how they’re marketed to women.”

“The EV industry has grown significantly over the last decade, and with government policies pushing for net zero targets—like the requirement for 80% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030—this growth is set to continue. To support this transition, manufacturers must scale EV production, and the supporting infrastructure—charging networks, grid capacity, and energy storage—needs to expand rapidly. While the speed of growth is uncertain, the shift is inevitable.

As the industry scales, we’ll likely see more opportunities for women, especially in roles like marketing, which often develop as companies mature. However, a big challenge remains in encouraging women to enter male-dominated areas such as product development and data insights.”

“Social proof is critical for getting more women into male-dominated fields like EV. We need to see more senior women in these roles and give them platforms—through online content or public speaking—to showcase what’s possible. Representation matters.

Beyond visibility, it starts with education. Encouraging girls to study relevant subjects at school is essential, but it also requires a broader shift in societal expectations around gender roles—a slow and challenging process.

On a practical level, steps like using inclusive language in job descriptions can help make these roles feel more accessible and appealing to women. These efforts, combined, can create an environment where more women feel empowered to pursue these careers.”

A spotlight on female founders fueling decarbonisation

Methodology
To create our list of female founders fuelling decarbonisation, we looked at companies that:

• Have hit one or more of our environmental signals
• Have an ‘active’ status on Companies House
• Have 100% female founders

We’ve included all companies that hit one or more of our environmental signals as we believe these all contribute to decarbonisation. They have then been ranked by total equity raised.

What’s particularly interesting about our list is the wide range of industries across the companies, and the different ways in which those companies are supporting decarbonisation in the UK.