On 10 July 2025, Earth Capital had the privilege of attending a major moment for inclusive finance in the UK. Our COO, Florence Seabright, joined leaders from across the investment industry at the House of Commons for the official launch of the Investing in Women Code, led by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.

One of the most exciting announcements was the Government’s new £500 million commitment to support the next generation of fund managers, with £400 million from the British Business Bank due to roll out from 2026. The focus is clear: backing underrepresented talent, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and those from deprived communities.

“This is more than a funding initiative—it’s about building a better investment culture,” said Florence Seabright. “We’ve long said that capital should reflect talent, and this programme helps make that real for the next generation of investors and founders alike.”

The 2025 report reinforced the business case for change. For the fifth consecutive year, Investing in Women Code signatories outperformed the wider market in both the number and value of investments going to female-founded companies. Notably:

• 31% of VC deals by signatories in 2024 involved companies with at least one female founder, compared to 27% in the wider market.
• 5% of investment value went to all-female founder teams – more than double the market average of 2%.
• Women-led businesses continue to receive comparable loan approval rates as male-led ones, but on average, seek only two-thirds the loan size, highlighting continued barriers to growth capital.

The report also highlighted a structural opportunity: addressing the 13% gap in equity investment for viable female and ethnic minority-led businesses could unlock substantial value across the UK market.

With over 290 signatories now part of the Code—including VCs, angel groups, banks and for the first time, LPs – momentum is clearly building. Yet the work is far from over. Earth Capital remains committed to amplifying women-led innovation and supporting systemic solutions that break down the funding gap once and for all.

Because investing in women isn’t just good policy – it’s good business.