HSBC Launches £819m Female Entrepreneur Fund

A lending fund is open to applications for female entrepreneurs across the UK.

HSBC Bank has launched the Female Entrepreneur Fund as a source of capital investment for small and medium businesses operated by women across the UK. Through the Fund, HSBC wishes to build a partnership with female entrepreneurs that could help take their businesses to the next level and realise their potential.

The Fund sits alongside the HSBC Roar initiative, which enables female entrepreneurs to access a range of masterclasses and networking opportunities.

Key benefits include:

  • Access to HSBC’s global network of experts offering business support.
  • Practical guidance from established female business owners.
  • Access to a community of like-minded female entrepreneurs from around the world.

The Fund will provide over £819 million in lending to female-owned businesses over the next 12 months. Loans will be arranged with the bank according to individual needs and circumstances.

Small and medium-sized businesses led by women may apply. The Fund will be open to both new and existing customers.

Sam Cooper-Gray, global head of market strategy at HSBC Business Banking, said:

‘We are delighted to launch the Female Entrepreneur Fund and the HSBC Roar programme to help address the challenges and bias that female leaders face.

‘The level of funding received over time by female-led businesses is significantly lower than male counterparts, while the recent impacts of the pandemic have seen these same businesses disproportionately affected.’

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)