In a landmark step toward inclusive economic growth, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed Alex Depledge MBE as the UK Treasury’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Adviser. A seasoned founder and tireless advocate for women in business, Depledge’s appointment signals a welcome shift in how the UK government is approaching startup and scale-up support.
As co-founder of Resi—a digital architecture platform—Depledge brings firsthand experience of the challenges and opportunities facing small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those led by women. She has long called out the systemic barriers that female founders face in accessing capital, scaling teams, and influencing policy.
🚀 Why This Matters
Depledge will serve in a part-time advisory role, informing key fiscal moments like the upcoming Mansion House speech and Autumn Budget. Her role will ensure that entrepreneurs—particularly women and underrepresented founders—have a direct voice in shaping national policy.
This is not just a symbolic appointment. It reflects a real move toward system-level change: embedding the lived experience of business-building into economic strategy at the highest level.
According to the Financial Times, Reeves’ decision to appoint a female founder marks a break from traditional advisory models, bringing practical experience and gender-lens insight to Treasury discussions around innovation, investment, and SME support.
At Invest in Women Hub, we believe policy and funding must evolve hand-in-hand. This is exactly the kind of strategic step that builds bridges between government, capital, and the women who are driving the future of business.
We’ll be watching closely—and cheering Alex on—as she steps into this historic role.
🔗 Read the full article via the Financial Times
