Supporting women-led businesses to reach their full potential is key for the economy, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will set out today.

Ms Forbes will reaffirm the Scottish Government’s support while addressing a Pathways Pledge event in Edinburgh, the first annual gathering of organisations signed up to tech entrepreneur Ana Stewart’s initiative to help remove barriers facing women in enterprise.

The initiative – Pathways Forward – was launched after Ana Stewart authored the paper Pathways, which delved into the issues women faced in breaking into entrepreneurship in Scotland, from economic obstacles to everyday sexism.

The Scottish Government invested a record £2.6 million in 2024-25 to widen female participation in entrepreneurship. This will increase to at least £4 million in 2025-26 as part of an enhanced enterprise package commitment of £15 million.

Ms Forbes said: “Supporting women-led businesses to realise their full potential is an economic imperative. Businesses drive our economy. For Scotland to be a high growth, start-up nation and create the jobs of the future, we need to fully unlock our entrepreneurial potential. We need more women starting and growing businesses to drive inclusive growth.

“Ana’s work identified the clear need to address educational barriers and societal attitudes to truly close the gender gap in entrepreneurship. By supporting women to achieve their ambitions, we can unlock substantial economic benefit and provide the next generation with positive role models.

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• Scots Gov Announces £1.5m ‘Pathways Pre-Start Fund’
• Female Founders Growth Summit | Success, Struggles, and Resilience
• Women Entrepreneurship: New Scot Gov Report Tackles Gender Barriers
• Pathways Forward Partners with Female Founders Rise for Summit

“This is a long term undertaking and cannot be delivered by government in isolation, which is why Pathways Forward is an excellent example of what can be done through partnership – sectors coming together to pledge their support and to hold each other accountable.”

According to the 2024 Gender Index, only 20% of established companies in Scotland are female-led, while 12.9% of the fastest growing companies in the nation are female-led.

Pathways Forward has already hosted its first event in partnership with Female Founders Rise, complete with panel discussions and the ability for women entrepreneurs to network with potential investors and other women in business.

Cohorts in Scotland continue to sign onto Stewart’s Pledge to improve the gender diversity of businesses and support women-led entrepreneurship in Scotland.