Charles Stanley Female Founders 2024
In continued collaboration with Charles Stanley, our latest report, Female Founders 2024, explores the role of women-led businesses in driving innovation and economic growth.
The Charles Stanley Female Founders 2024 report provides an analysis of the landscape for women-led businesses in the UK. It examines the impact of female founders, their contributions to the economy, and the barriers they continue to face—particularly in securing equity investment.
The report explores key trends in female entrepreneurship, including founder demographics, key industries, and investment trends. It highlights the persistent funding gap, where male-led businesses secured over six times the equity investment raised by female-founded companies in 2024. It also examines the role of mentorship, investor diversity, and support networks in driving change.
Through case studies and survey insights, the report sheds light on female entrepreneurs’ experiences—from launching their first ventures to scaling and exiting businesses. It provides a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in securing funding, navigating industry biases, and accessing the networks necessary for growth. By uncovering these insights, the report highlights opportunities to create a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UK.
Inside the report
About the authors
-
Henry WhorwoodManaging DirectorHenry leads our Beauhurst Insights team, and is an expert on equity finance. He's worked on briefs for the likes of Barclays, SyndicateRoom, Innovate UK, Smith & Williamson and British Business Bank. He regularly gives presentations on market trends at events around the UK.
-
Callum NewtonPublic Sector LeadsCallum is the Public Sector Lead for Beauhurst Insights, responsible for leading on the team's public sector work. Before joining Beauhurst, Callum was a Senior Researcher at Westminster-based think-tank Onward focusing on ‘Levelling Up’ policy. He was also a Consultant in Portland Communication’s specialist Litigation & Disputes practice.
-
Hannah NichollsDesignerHannah produces graphic design and data visualisation for the Beauhurst Insights team, and has accumulated over 11 years of experience within the design industry. In the last 4+ years, she has specialised in data visualisation and report design, focusing on creating bespoke reports for strategy and thought leadership.
-
Miraj MistryResearch ManagerMiraj handles project management and data analysis for Beauhurst Insights. His previous role was with an economic consultancy who specialise in providing socio-economic research and analysis to support infrastructure and transport projects. He holds an MSc in economics from the University of Bristol and a BSc from the University of Leeds.
-
Freya MortenResearch ManagerFreya manages research projects and data analysis at Beauhurst Insights. She recently joined the team, having previously conducted and led research at Grant Thornton and Mishcon de Reya across multiple service lines, industries and geographies. She holds a BA in Theology from the University of Oxford.
-
Michael HurleyData Science ManagerMichael uses advanced statistical and econometric methods to provide clients with more in-depth, impactful, and novel analyses. He also automates processes by developing and implementing new analytics tools. Before joining Beauhurst, Michael was a data analyst at a policy organisation, where he researched innovation policy.
-
tomsharpeAssociateTom performs data analysis and visualisation as well as copywriting for the team. Prior to joining Beauhurst Insights, he spent 2 years in the Data team, helping curate our dataset, with a specific focus on IPOs and Exits. Tom holds a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University and enjoys consulting on mental health research.
Get access to unrivalled data on all the companies you need to know about, so you can approach the right leads, at the right time.
Book a 40 minute demo today to see all of the key features, as well as the depth and breadth of data available on the Beauhurst platform.
An associate will work with you to build a sophisticated search, returning a dynamic list of organisations matching your ideal client profile.


