Issue 30

Welcome to the 30th issue of The Female Voice, the dedicated newsletter designed to empower women in business. At Female Founder Finance, we understand the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, and our mission is to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary for success.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, making informed decisions is crucial. Our aim is to guide you in accessing the right funding opportunities, connecting you with the right lenders, and timing your financial moves strategically. Armed with this expertise, you can grow and scale your business with confidence and assurance.

Venturing into the business world can be daunting, but the right funding can be a game-changer. This newsletter is crafted to provide insights, tips, and resources to help you navigate these challenges effectively. Whether you're a start-up founder or looking to expand your established business, we're here to support your journey.

Networking

This week hosted our 3rd and final networking event of 2024 at Long Eaton Rugby Club.

We had a fantastic line up of inspiration women join us.

Rachel Hill from Metro Bank (UK) talked about the Investing In Women Code and the impact that data can have on lending to women. Rachel highlighted the banks support for women led businesses.

At Metro Bank we became a founding signatory in 2019 as we strongly believe we can create a business environment that helps more women succeed in starting up, to sustaining and scaling."

We also heard from Kate Parker and her journey as a female founder and the challenges and successes she's faced in scaling her business.

Our aim with our networking is to create a supportive networking community for women, it's crucial to:

• Encourage Mutual Support: Foster environments where women can support each other by sharing advice, resources, and opportunities.

• Promote Safe Networking Spaces: Ensure that networking events are inclusive and respectful, allowing women to engage without fear of misinterpretation.

• Facilitate Work-Life Balance: Organize events that accommodate women's schedules, acknowledging their role as caregivers.

• Empower Women to Ask: Encourage women to express their needs and goals in networking interactions, promoting a culture of mutual benefit.

If you'd like to join our mailing list to be notified of the 2025 events we are planning then let us know.

The following day I was delighted to join Cambridge & Counties Bank first Female Founders event in Leicester.

The event brought together a group of women across the County from finance professionals, advisers and female business owners to collaborate and empower each other.

Networking for women goes beyond just connecting with lots of people: it’s about building a community to share ideas, help solve problems, and to create opportunities for one another. We’ve all heard the phrase, “it’s not what you know but who you know.” Let’s face it, most people hate the idea of networking.

When we think of networking among men, it conjures up thoughts of the “old-boy network” - an informal system of connections through which men use their positions of influence to help other men. While some might think that women need to network like men to get ahead, new research suggests that that’s not enough.

While men are focused on the short-term need, women are more focused on building long-term personal connections or friendships. Women often make contacts through people they know and tend to form smaller, deeper networks based on trust. They also frequently seek advice for both personal and professional needs.

Women generally hesitate to ask for what they want out of a networking interaction. Instead, they think about what they can do for the other person first. Many women don’t want to attend events after work, because they want to get home to be with their families (since women are still rightly or wrongly the primary caregivers).

Women also tend to avoid networking with men in social settings because they don’t want their behaviour to be misconstrued, I’ve seen first hand situations where women have been forced into situations that makes them uncomfortable.

So initiatives like this one from Cambridge & Counties Bank is so important, connecting you to each other, as professional who genuinely want to help and support each other, and drive change for female founders.

Thank you Kalpa Patel, Jayne Follows, Jaspreet Dosanjh-Sidhu and Bhoomi Vaitha for yesterday and for your belief in the Female Founder eco-system.

Case Study

Also since our last edition, we have been involved in supporting two existing business owners in their new joint venture, the creation of a soft play centre in Nottinghamshire.

From the beginning, Megan and Imogen were determined to build a soft play centre that went beyond just child entertainment. They envisioned a space where parents, guardians, and families could also feel comfortable and supported. 

Driven by a vision to revive the soft play and create a welcoming venue for families, Megan and Imogen aimed to bring their unique perspectives as parents into the new centre. However, they quickly realised that securing the lease, equipment, and renovations would require substantial financial support.

We helped them with a start up loan application which secured them £50,000.

You can read the full case study on our website.

At Female Founder Finance, we are dedicated to fostering the growth and success of women-led businesses. Our commitment transcends mere words; it is demonstrated through our actions and the bespoke support we offer. Whether you're launching a start-up or managing a multimillion-dollar enterprise, we treat all our clients with equal respect and dedication.

Tailored Support for Every Stage

We understand that each business is unique, with its own set of challenges and opportunities. That's why our services are customized to meet the specific needs of your company. Our team is equipped to assist businesses at all stages:

• Start-Ups: For those in the initial stages, we provide guidance on securing funding, developing business plans, and navigating the complexities of launching a new venture.

• Growth Stage: As your business expands, we offer strategic advice on scaling operations, managing cash flow, and optimizing financial performance.

• Established Enterprises: For businesses with a significant turnover, our expertise includes advanced financial strategies, risk management, and investment planning to ensure sustained growth and stability.

Actions That Speak Louder Than Words

Our success is measured by the success of our clients. Here’s how we make a tangible difference:

• Bespoke Solutions: We tailor our services to fit the unique requirements of each business, ensuring that our support is as effective as possible.

• Expert Consultation: Our team of financial experts is dedicated to providing insightful and practical advice that can be immediately implemented.

• Network and Resources: We connect our clients with a vast network of resources, including potential investors, industry experts, and other women entrepreneurs.

A Commitment to Equality and Excellence

At Female Founder Finance, equality is at the core of our operations. We believe that every woman entrepreneur deserves access to the resources and support necessary to thrive. Our mission is to level the playing field in the business world by empowering women with the tools they need to succeed.

Join the Movement

We invite all women entrepreneurs to partner with us on their journey to success. Together, we can achieve great things. Let us prove that with the right support, there are no limits to what women-led businesses can accomplish.

As female founders ourselves, we know first hand how daunting it can be trying to secure finance in a male dominated industry.  This is why within our panel of banks and lenders we have created a female eco-system to ensure you are dealing with females throughout.

Removing conscious and unconscious bias in the process.

If we can help in anyway with accessing the finance you need then please do let us know.