Exeter University has become the first university to sign a code aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs.
Exeter is the 200th organization to sign the Investing in Women Code, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade and the British Business Bank. In signing, Exeter has pledged to take practical steps to support female entrepreneurs, such as providing better access to business development resources and funding opportunities.
“We are proud to be the first university to sign up to the Investing in Women Code,” says Chris Evans, Exeter’s director of innovation, impact and business. “We believe that by fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity, we can help bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship and unleash the full potential of our female students, researchers, and alumni.”
The code was established in 2019 following a report by Allison Rose, CEO of NatWest, who demonstrated that up to £250 billion of new economic value could be added to the UK economy if women were launching and growing new companies at the same rate as men.
“It is fantastic to see that the Investing in Women Code has reached 200 signatories, following this commitment from the University of Exeter, the first university to sign the code,” says Rose. “By bringing together organizations from across the financial services landscape and beyond, the code is central to driving progress and improving access to funding for women starting and scaling successful businesses.”
Source: Business Live
