RBS ANNOUNCES £1 BILLION FUNDING FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

RBS has announced a new £1 billion in funding through NatWest to support female entrepreneurs in the UK to scale and grow – the largest intervention by a UK lender focused specifically on female-led businesses.

The Female Entrepreneurship Funding builds directly on a key finding from The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship (The Rose Review), that the single biggest issue holding female entrepreneurs back is the lack of funding directed towards them.

RBS Chief Executive, Alison Rose, said: “The funding we have announced will help support anyone who is thinking about starting a business throughout the UK. There is much more to come.

“Building a business is often tough and lonely and can be harder than it needs to be. By tackling the most important issues facing our entrepreneurs, we can make a real difference to those who need it most, especially in femaleled businesses.”

Louise is Head of Customer Marketing at 9 Group, the multi-million-pound turnover telecoms company based at Stonehouse.

Louise has been in the role since 2015 and is a strong and vocal advocate for not only more women in the workplace, but for more diversity and inclusion in general.

“Those who are embracing diversity in the ICT sector at all levels are welcoming new voices and fresh ideas to the table,” she said. “Their inclusive approach leads to innovation, which is fundamental for our industry’s future success.”

It is fair to say that the communications industry hasn’t really been able to boast about its diversity, but 9 Group is one telecoms company actively pioneering a diversity and inclusion agenda and the age of male domination could be ending.

Louise said: “Businesses which include staff from a broad range of backgrounds have been found to outperform firms with a less diverse workforce. This approach has enabled us to identify new opportunities and explore innovative ideas.

“As well as having an eye on increased profitability, businesses have the unique transformative power to facilitate a fairer and more prosperous world. Leaders can positively contribute to a more inclusive society by empowering marginalised groups. The ethical argument is strong enough on its own, but when coupled with the proven positive financial impact that diversity can bring, it’s a no brainer.”