Female founder movement heads to the capital

A Teesside-born business movement is expanding its national reach as it looks to raise the visibility and profile of female entrepreneurs across the UK.

Female Founder UK will hold its first London event at The Refinery in Southwark this Friday (September 11), bringing together founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the capital.

Launched in Teesside by founder and chief executive Max Freer, the organisation is building a national network designed to connect women in business while increasing recognition of their contribution to the economy.

Its expansion follows a series of events at Teesside University, with further gatherings planned in Newcastle and Manchester as Female Founder UK looks to establish a presence in cities across Britain.

Max said: “Britain's female founders need one shared identity.

“It shouldn’t matter whether a woman builds her business in Teesside, Manchester or London.

“Her ambition deserves the same visibility, recognition and opportunity.

“Britain doesn’t have a shortage of female founders. It has a visibility problem.

“Female Founder UK was created to change that.

“We are building a national identity that women in business can proudly belong to, wherever they are based.

“The UK has lots of brilliant female-founder communities.

“What it doesn’t have is a shared identity that connects them.”

Fay Cannings, founder of ethical jewellery brand Seekd and chief executive of Richmond BID (Business Improvement District), will share her entrepreneurial journey and the story behind the brand at the London event.

She added: “Being seen can make a real difference.

“Visibility can shift perceptions, create connections and open up opportunity.

“Investment matters, of course.

“But so does seeing women leading, creating and shaping the spaces, opportunities and world around us.

“Alongside hard graft, our unique skills and bold moves, being seen is what makes the next opportunity possible.”

The initiative is supported by communications partner SASS Media and social media partner Social Allies.

While much of the conversation around female entrepreneurship has focused on access to investment and barriers to growth, Female Founder UK is also seeking to address what it sees as a significant visibility gap.

The organisation says many women building successful businesses remain largely unknown beyond their existing networks, potentially limiting opportunities to secure investment, partnerships and wider influence.

Previous events have brought together founders from a range of sectors to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, confidence, funding, work-life balance and the challenges associated with growing a business.

Max added: “For decades, women have built remarkable businesses across Britain, yet there has never been a single, recognisable brand that represents them collectively.

“There are networks. There are memberships. There are business support organisations.

“But there has never been a national identity created specifically for female founders.

"We’re building something much bigger.

“We’re creating a movement that celebrates women building businesses, creates opportunities for collaboration and ensures female founders are recognised as a major force in the British economy.

“Britain needs to get better at recognising and commercially backing the businesses women are already building.

“Founder visibility is commercial currency.”

SASS Media directors Sarah Dale and Sarah Walker have also contributed to sessions exploring storytelling, authentic communication and the importance of founders raising both their personal and company profiles.

Sarah Dale added: “One of the recurring themes we see when working with entrepreneurs is that many women are doing incredible things but are often reluctant to put themselves forward and share their stories.

“Visibility matters. People buy from people, invest in people and collaborate with people they know and trust.

“Female Founder UK is creating a platform where women can be seen, heard and recognised for the impact they are making.”

The London event marks the next stage of Female Founder UK’s expansion while maintaining its focus on creating an inclusive community for women at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys.

It will run from 9.30am to 11.30am, with the organisation planning to use its growing programme of events to connect female founders around the country and provide a platform for sharing their experiences, challenges and opportunities.

Max added: “Female Founder UK was never created to become another networking club.

“We are building Britain's identity brand for female founders.

“A brand that represents ambition without apology. Success without compromise. Recognition without exclusivity.

“Whether you’re launching your first business, growing a scale-up or leading an established company, Female Founder UK is about making sure female founders are visible, valued and recognised.”

To book your place at the event, click here.

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