BGF sponsors the everywoman Awards 2022

BGF is the associate partner of the 2022 everywoman Awards – the UK’s leading business awards that celebrate ambitious women-led businesses and their founders.

BGF is committed to supporting diversity within the investment ecosystem, including in female-led businesses. This mission aligns with the everywoman awards’ focus on shining a light on female entrepreneurs from all walks of life and providing a platform for entrepreneurs to share their achievements, challenges, and stories of success.

Today, 19 finalists have been shortlisted from thousands of entries across seven categories. The finalists come from a diverse range of industries – from pharmaceutical to IT software and from spa chains to package design – and were chosen by a judging panel comprising some of the UK’s top business figures including BGF investor Daina Spedding, Chrissie Rucker OBE (The White Company), Panni Morshedi (Beauty Pie) and Rosaleen Blair CBE (Alexander Mann Solutions).

Having been named the most active investor in women-led businesses by the ScaleUp Institute for the last three years, BGF has invested £365 million in women-led businesses since 2011 and has provided £60 million of follow-on funding to facilitate further growth.

In 2021 alone, total BGF capital invested into women-led businesses exceeded £110 million with notable deals including a £2.5 million investment into sustainable female underwear brand, Stripe & Stare, founded by Katie Lopes and Nicola Piercy; a £2 million investment in energy efficient semiconductor company Cambridge GaN Devices, founded by Georgia Longobardi; and a £3 million investment in biotechnology platform Phico Therapeutics, founded by Dr Heather Fairhead.

Daina Spedding, investor at BGF and a judge at the everywoman awards 2022, said: “The everywoman awards is naturally aligned with BGF’s mission to be supportive to the widest and most diverse range of entrepreneurs and to significantly increase the flow of capital to women in business.

“The economy can only become more dynamic through an increasingly diverse entrepreneurial landscape, which is why BGF is doing everything it can to support ambitious female-led businesses, providing the strategic support, connections and growth capital they need to thrive.”

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman added: “We’re absolutely delighted to have BGF on board as the associate partner for this year’s awards. We know that women on average have 20% lower confidence than men in their capabilities to start a business and those that do launch with, on average, 53% less capital than their male counterparts.[1] Partnering with BGF – as the UK’s most active growth capital investor – sends an important message, that the ability to seek funding for growth is something that is absolutely open to all.

“For the past 20 years the everywoman awards have provided a platform for women in business to build their confidence and inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs, whilst facilitating powerful introductions to business mentors, commercial relationships, and investors. We hope their experiences will go onto inspire others and provide the motivation that will strengthen the backbone of the UK’s economy.”

For further information about the awards, including a round-up of all this year’s finalists visit: www.everywoman.com/ewawards

[1] 2020/21 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report