Analysis suggests just 11% of small business loans go to female founders
- Companies founded solely by women garnered just 1.8%[i] of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in Europe.
- The total value of loans supported by Personal Guarantee Insurance (PGI) was over £379m in 2023, but just 5% of that value was for female founders
- 11% of people taking PGI for a business loan have been women, a small rise on 2022 which saw just 9% of policies taken by women for personal guarantee-backed loans
- The total value of loans supported by PGI amounted to over £379m in 2023, but just 5% of that value was for female founders, equating to £20m.
As Labour sets out targets for funding female-led businesses through the state-owned British Business Bank and launches a review of the financial exclusion of women[ii], a new analysis of personal guarantee-backed loans reveals a disparity in the level of financing women are securing compared to men.
Todd Davison, MD Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance, the provider of personal guarantee insurance to small business owners and directors said: “The number of new businesses incorporated by female founders reached a record high in 2023[iii], nevertheless, women’s success at attracting finance is not keeping pace with this growth. Although there has been a small rise in the percentage of policies taken by women for personal guarantee-backed loans, it’s clear that no matter who’s in charge after the general election more needs to be done to support female founders. Purbeck plans to play its part in helping female entrepreneurs by boosting awareness of access to funding and raising awareness of personal guarantee insurance as an effective means to mitigate the risks of personal guarantee-backed loans.”
About Purbeck Insurance Services
Purbeck Insurance Services is a Personal Guarantee Insurance specialist supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (“SMEs”) and promoting business confidence
Insurance policies backed by Markel International Insurance Company Limited (“Markel”), an A-Rated insurer, as rated by A.M. Best (A), Fitch (A+) and S&P (A). Markel is a shareholder in Purbeck Insurance Services.
Purbeck Insurance Services is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Insurance is underwritten by Purbeck Insurance Services, an authorised Managing General Agent (“MGA”) of Markel
Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance is annual insurance policy that provides Director(s) with insurance cover in the event their business lender calls in the Personal Guarantee (provided by the Director(s) as part of raising business finance)
Key features of Personal Guarantee Insurance:
- Premiums are competitively priced and based on individual circumstances
- Cover is available for Personal Guarantees signed to support a wide range of business finance facilities
[1] https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/the-european-vc-female-founders-dashboard
[3] https://www.thegenderindex.co.uk/uploads/Reports/TGI-2023-Report.pdf
Featured Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash
