Starling Bank has partnered with Small Business Britain to launch a nationwide programme to help women start and scale their businesses. The initiative, called Female Founder Fundamentals, will begin in early 2026 and offer free online training focused on business growth, finance, and digital skills.
The partnership was announced during a networking event at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, where more than 150 female entrepreneurs gathered to celebrate women’s achievements in business and sport. “There’s such incredible energy when women come together to celebrate success and support one another, whether in business or on the pitch,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain. “This event with Starling at Arsenal Emirates Stadium was the perfect way to kick off our new partnership and to spotlight the confidence, community and ambition that drive female founders forward. Together, we’re building on that momentum with a new training programme to help even more women start and grow brilliant businesses.”
The new programme will feature masterclasses led by established entrepreneurs and industry experts, covering topics such as accessing investment and using AI to improve efficiency. It will also address challenges identified in earlier research by the two organisations, including the pressure many women experience in balancing business demands with wellbeing.
The collaboration builds on both organisations’ shared goal of strengthening female entrepreneurship across the UK’s small business landscape. Women currently lead 14% of SME employers and around 30% of sole trader businesses, according to government data. Analysts estimate that achieving parity with male-led business creation could contribute up to £250 billion to the UK economy.
The initiative aligns with Small Business Britain’s objective to increase the number of women leading small and medium-sized enterprises to 30% by the end of the decade, positioning female entrepreneurship as a key driver of future economic growth.
