Supporting female founders in the Midlands
Jody Tableporter is Director of Nations & Regions Investment Funds at the British Business Bank. The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II provides debt and equity finance to businesses and entrepreneurs across the Midlands to enable growth and innovation in the region.
As March marks both International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, it is worth highlighting the funding challenges facing female founders and the role the British Business Bank can play in levelling the playing field. But I think it is also important to take a moment like this just to pause and celebrate those women who are bringing their business vision to life – and inspiring others while they do so.
Research from the British Business Bank has previously revealed that female founders are less likely to secure funding for their businesses than male counterparts. The Bank, and others, are working to overcome this through, amongst other interventions, the Investing in Women Code – a commitment to support the advancement of female entrepreneurship by improving access to tools, resources and finance.
As part of this much needed work, here in the Midlands, we have been honoured to support a range of inspiring female founders.
The inaugural Midlands Engine Investment Fund supported a number of female founders – including Kameese Davis, who frustrated by being unable to find products suitable for her daughter’s hair, created Nylah’s Naturals. Kameese secured £530,000 from the fund to grow the business and brand globally.
Kameese is representative of the founders the recently launched Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is looking to support. Launched just a year ago, the fund has already completed its 100th deal, having driven £37m of investment into new and growing businesses across the region.
One of those businesses is IMP & MAKER, a luxury food and drink gift company based in Lincolnshire. The firm was founded by Sarah Louise Fairburn in 2020, who had worked in the hospitality sector for more than 20 years. Sarah secured £200,000 to help her meet growing customer demand and is now scaling up while juggling a busy family life as a mum to four children.
While funding new and ambitious firms is incredibly fulfilling for myself and the team it is also rewarding to see previous investments succeed – and return.
Sharon Boyle is Managing Director of Advance Tapes, a specialist manufacturer of tapes and adhesives. Having been with the business for 30 years, Sharon was already familiar with the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, having been successful in securing investment from the first fund in 2019. Now, as Managing Director, Sharon recently secured a further £500,000 from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to help the firm with its global expansion and keep up with market demand.
Ensuring fair and equal access to finance for small businesses is a core foundation of the British Business Bank. Our focus, alongside our fund delivery partners, is to help founders and owners from all backgrounds realise their ambitions by helping them access the funding and support they need.
Closing the gender investment gap is vital to the region, and the UK’s innovation. Our female talent is driving growth in the Midlands, and we are here to support.
The British Business Bank and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will continue to open up conversations around business growth, create spaces where female founders can get the help they need, and invest in diverse businesses across the region. As a leading voice in the small business finance space, we believe in leading by example.
