£20K Everywoman Grant Opens for Female-Founded SMEs: Backed by Tide to Power 200,000 Women-Led Businesses by 2027
A powerful new opportunity has launched for women entrepreneurs in the UK: a £20,000 grant available to one exceptional female-founded SME, in a partnership between the Everywoman Awards and Tide, the UK’s leading digital business banking platform.
This new prize enhances the already prestigious Everywoman Awards, which have long championed the achievements of women across a spectrum of industries and business stages. Now, with direct financial backing, the initiative takes a bold step toward not just recognising women founders—but funding them too.
💡 A Grant with Purpose
The £20,000 grant will be awarded to a standout female founder whose business demonstrates high-growth potential, innovation, and meaningful impact — with a particular focus on scalability and community contribution.
Open to SMEs across the UK, the grant is non-dilutive and can be used to fuel expansion, hire staff, invest in new tech, or launch new products or markets. It’s designed to fill a key gap in the journey for many women-led ventures: bridge funding and early-stage acceleration.
“This grant is not just about money. It’s about visibility, recognition, and momentum at a crucial stage in a founder’s journey,” said an Everywoman Awards spokesperson.
🤝 Powered by Tide’s Long-Term Commitment
The initiative forms part of Tide’s pledge to support 200,000 female-led businesses by 2027, an ambitious effort launched in response to the Rose Review and British Business Bank findings that women continue to face structural barriers in starting and growing businesses.
As of 2023, women-led businesses made up just 16.8% of the SME population, despite evidence showing that if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it could add £250 billion to the UK economy.
Tide’s multi-year strategy includes:
- Dedicated digital tools for female entrepreneurs
- Financial literacy support
- Access to grants, networks, and mentors
- In-product nudges and community-building for underrepresented founders
This partnership with Everywoman marks a key milestone in turning that commitment into measurable action.
🏆 Everywoman Awards: More Than Just Recognition
Now in its 22nd year, the Everywoman Awards are among the most well-regarded accolades for women in business in the UK. Past winners have gone on to raise significant capital, win major contracts, and grow international footprints.
This year’s awards — which include categories spanning from micro-businesses to global impact — now offer something even more tangible: funding that can immediately change the trajectory of a female-founded SME.
🌱 Why It Matters for the Invest in Women Hub
This initiative speaks directly to one of the Hub’s core concerns: capital access for early-stage female founders. It’s a shining example of how corporate platforms like Tide can move from “support” to “solutions” — providing both funding and a platform for visibility.
It also reinforces the power of public-private partnerships in driving gender parity in entrepreneurship — not just through policy, but through action.
🔗 Read more or apply:
https://www.everywoman.com/entrepreneur-awards/