Today at the House of Lords, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs gathered to celebrate the launch of the Charles Stanley Female Founders 2025 Report. The report highlights both the achievements and the persistent challenges faced by women entrepreneurs across the UK — from access to finance and investment bias to the crucial role of mentorship and peer support in driving equality in business.
Seema Flower, founder and Managing Director of Blind Ambition, was among those in attendance to support the initiative. As one of the UK’s leading voices for inclusion and accessibility, Seema’s work consistently champions the empowerment of underrepresented groups — including women, blind, and partially sighted entrepreneurs — within the business ecosystem.
“Empowering women founders is about unlocking the full potential of our economy,” said Seema Flower. “When women — and disabled women in particular — have access to the right networks, investment, and visibility, we all benefit. I was proud to stand among so many inspiring leaders today who are breaking barriers and creating space for others to succeed.”
The Female Founders 2025 Report reveals that female-led high-growth companies now represent 13.7% of the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape, employing over 330,000 people. Yet, despite progress, female-founded companies still receive six times less equity funding than those led by men. The report also found that over 63% of women feel they must work harder than men to be recognised as leaders, while more than half have experienced sexism on their entrepreneurial journey.
Seema’s attendance at the House of Lords launch reinforces Blind Ambition’s commitment to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion — not just in disability representation, but across gender and social lines. Initiatives like this are vital for building the kind of inclusive economy where every founder, regardless of gender or disability, can thrive.
At Blind Ambition, our work continues to open doors for blind and partially sighted people to pursue entrepreneurship, employment, and leadership — ensuring that the conversation around inclusion extends beyond gender to embrace the full spectrum of diversity.
For more on Blind Ambition’s inclusion and training work, visit www.blindambition.co.uk.
To learn about opportunities for visually impaired jobseekers, visit recruitment.blindambition.co.uk.
