Ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March), the Development Bank of Wales has reported a significant rise in investment into female‑led businesses, with more than one in three deals this year backing women entrepreneurs.
New figures show that over 35% of all deals completed so far in 2025/26 have supported female‑led firms, up from 29% last year. Over £3 million has already been invested across 60 women‑led businesses — a milestone that the Development Bank says reflects growing momentum.
Speaking at a roundtable event held by Business News Wales at the Development Bank’s offices in Cardiff, Rhian Elston, Wales Investment Director, said:
“This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates strongly with our own message: expanding women’s access to capital delivers economic returns for the whole of Wales.
“‘Give to Gain’ captures exactly what we see when we invest in female‑led businesses. When women gain access to the capital they need — particularly in male‑dominated sectors — we gain economic growth, innovation and stronger communities across Wales.
“We’re proud that more than one in three of our deals now support women entrepreneurs. But we won’t rest on our laurels. Initiatives like Women Angels of Wales are helping us build an ecosystem that gives more women the confidence, networks and capital to grow.”
While national conversations often focus on the barriers facing women in business, Rhian Elston believes that Wales has a success story that deserves far greater visibility. She said: “According to the Gender Index, Wales performs broadly in line with the UK average in the proportion of female‑led businesses. But where Wales stands out is in the number of high‑growth female‑led firms — a category where it outperforms the UK as a whole.
“This matters because high‑growth businesses drive productivity, create skilled jobs and deliver long‑term economic impact. Wales also performs strongly on access to finance. Female‑led businesses here are more successful at securing funding than in other parts of the UK — a factor that directly supports scaling and innovation. At the Development Bank of Wales, 35% of businesses that we’ve supported so far this year are female‑led, compared with a UK average of around 20%.
“Too often the narrative around women in business focuses solely on the gaps. Those conversations matter, but they should sit alongside a confident story about success. Wales has built an ecosystem that is delivering for women entrepreneurs — and that should be a source of pride and momentum.
“Success breeds confidence. And confidence breeds growth,” Rhian added.
“Wales has an opportunity not just to support female entrepreneurs, but to lead the UK in how we champion them. The data shows we are making real progress — now we need to make sure the next generation of founders knows it because supporting women entrepreneurs is not a side initiative or a niche agenda. It is central to building a stronger, more inclusive economy.”
