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British Business Bank agrees to commit £30 million to Invest in Women Taskforce ‘Women backing Women’ fund led by Bootstrap4F

Press release 09 December 2025

The British Business Bank has agreed to commit an anchor investment of £30 million (subject to final terms) to The Invest in Women Taskforce ‘Women backing Women’ Fund of Funds led by Bootstrap4F alongside institutional supporters Barclays, M&G, and Nationwide. The fund is targeting a first close of £130m 1 .

In June, the British Business Bank doubled its initial £50 million commitment to the Invest in Women Taskforce, bringing their commitment to £100 million into female-led funds through its existing programmes. The £30 million to the Fund of Funds will take the Bank’s funding to a total of £130 million. These investments will expand access to funding for female investors and entrepreneurs, with a focus on the eight growth-driving sectors of the Government’s Industrial Strategy – from life sciences to digital & technology – that underpin UK growth.

The 'Women backing Women' fund - thought to be the largest dedicated fund of funds in the world - is the first female-led initiative of its kind, focused on deploying capital into female founded businesses and mixed investment teams in the UK.

Christine Hockley, Managing Director and Co-Head of Funds, British Business Bank, said,

  • 1

    Subject to final terms, relevant approvals and signing. All parties in the first close are finalising diligence, terms and structuring. Bootstrap4F is targeting first close of £130m, enabling the fund to begin investing into female-led funds in 2026.

On top of our existing £100 million commitment to the Taskforce, we plan to commit an additional £30 million to their Fund of Funds. The British Business Bank aims to unlock potential across the economy by ensuring that the full spectrum of UK entrepreneurs have access to finance, including female founders. This is why the British Business Bank is working closely with organisations like the Taskforce to build the UK’s pool of female investors, taking important action to improve access to finance for female entrepreneurs.

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said, 

Growth is this Government’s number one mission and I am backing female-powered business not only because it’s critical for our economy but because it is the right thing to do. As the first female Chancellor in the UK I have committed to improving economic outcomes for women, from lifting the two child benefit cap to breaking down barriers and opening pathways for women to start, scale, and invest in businesses across Britain.

Hannah Bernard, Co-Chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, said, 

Female-led businesses deliver 35% higher returns than male-led businesses, and play an essential role in supporting UK growth, so this is not only the right thing to do, but a commercial imperative. We need to quickly address the gender balance of both investment committees and their capital deployment, and continue to highlight the positive economic impact that women deliver.

Debbie Wosskow, multi-exit Entrepreneur and Co-Chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, said, “

Reaching first close will be a huge milestone and we’re incredible proud of the progress made so far. We have worked tirelessly to build the funding pool over the past year, the largest of its kind in the world. But c.80% of UK venture capital still goes to all-male teams. Studies show that diverse teams deliver stronger returns – so what are we waiting for?

Further Information

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Notes to editors

About British Business Bank 

The British Business Bank is the UK government’s economic development bank. Established in November 2014, its mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. Its remit is to design, deliver and efficiently manage UK-wide smaller business access to finance programmes for the UK government. The British Business Bank’s core programmes support £23bn 2  of finance to almost 64,000 3  smaller businesses.

British Business Bank plc is a public limited company registered in England and Wales, registration number 08616013, registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. It is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. With the exception of BBB Investment Services Limited they are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority. BBB Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at British Business Bank.

The above investment is operated by British Patient Capital Limited, a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc. British Patient Capital Limited is registered in England and Wales with company number 11271076, and registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. British Patient Capital makes commitments and invests on its own behalf and on behalf of third-party investors whose investments British Patient Capital manages.

The transaction described above does not constitute or imply any endorsement, warranty or recommendation by the UK government, the British Business Bank plc, its subsidiaries or any other party in respect of Bootstrap4F or its products or services.

About the Invest in Women Taskforce:

The Invest in Women Taskforce was established with the goal of making the UK the best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur. It will do this by:

  1. Delivering one of the world’s largest funding pots for female-powered businesses, to be deployed by female investors.
  2. Increasing the proportion of female angel investors, and the level of angel investment going to female-powered businesses.
  3. Support the broader ecosystem – working across Financial Services to enable more women to start and scale businesses

The Taskforce is backed by the His Majesty’s Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade.

Investors committed into the Women Backing Women Fund are Barclays, M&G, the Visa Foundation, British Business Bank (subject to terms) and Nationwide Building Society. Investors who have made Taskforce commitments through their own partner programmes are BGF, Aviva Ventures, the British Business Bank and Morgan Stanley.

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