The ‘UK Survey of SME Finances 2004’ identified that gender was not an issue for female entrepreneurs accessing external finance. Among established businesses, women-led businesses seek the same levels of external finance and are just as likely as male-owned business to obtain the finance they sought.
While there is no universal gender issue regarding access to finance, depending upon their personal circumstances, some women do experience problems. In light of this, the SBS Women’s Stakeholder Group and RDAs supported a series of regional ‘Access to Finance’ roadshow events for female entrepreneurs between January and June 2006.