Female founder movement comes to Newcastle

A growing national movement is expanding into Newcastle as it looks to raise the visibility of female-founded businesses and ensure opportunities are not concentrated in London.

Female Founder UK, which launched in Teesside before expanding nationwide, will hold its first Newcastle event at NatWest Accelerator on Saint James’ Boulevard on September 18.

The event follows the organisation’s inaugural London gathering and will bring together founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the North East.

Led by founder and chief executive Max Freer, Female Founder UK aims to build a recognised national identity for women creating and scaling businesses, generating employment and driving innovation.

Max said: “Forget North versus South. Britain’s female founders need one shared identity.

“It shouldn't matter whether a woman builds her business in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, 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.

“We don't want Newcastle founders to have to become London founders to become visible.

“Female Founder UK was created to ensure talented women can build successful businesses wherever they are based and still have access to recognition, opportunities and influential networks.”

Female Founder UK’s Newcastle expansion comes amid concerns that female founders outside London can face greater challenges accessing investment, influential networks and opportunities to raise their profiles.

A recent Female Founder UK roundtable with North East business leaders highlighted a fragmented support ecosystem, gender imbalance in funding and limited awareness of the investment landscape.

The organisation says increasing visibility is central to helping women-led businesses secure growth, partnerships and investment.

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.

“Opportunity should not depend on your postcode.

“We want women in Newcastle and across the North to have a bigger seat at the table when it comes to entrepreneurship, investment and business growth.

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

“Founder visibility is commercial currency.”

Previous events across Teesside and London have explored entrepreneurship, leadership, confidence, funding, work-life balance and the importance of founders telling their stories.

The Newcastle launch is being supported by communications partner SASS media and social media partner Social Allies.

SASS director 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 North East is home to incredible female entrepreneurial talent.

“By bringing founders together and amplifying their voices, we can help ensure that opportunity is not limited by location.”

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.”

The event will run from 9.30am to 11.30am, with attendees invited to connect and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing female entrepreneurs.

For more information about Female Founder UK, click here. To book your place at the Newcastle event, click here.

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