UK Universities Unveil WE Innovate National Programme to Support Women Entrepreneurs

• British higher Education Institutions foster innovation and growth among women-led ventures
• The programme aims to accelerate 150 women-led ventures each year
• It features business coaching, expert consultations, masterclasses, and peer-to-peer mentoring
• Five leading teams will secure funding from a £30,000 award fund

Glasgow University is set to implement a tailored programme to back women entrepreneurs, aligning with the broader launch of WE Innovate National- the UK’s first academic network focused on female business leadership. The five-member alliance plans to support 150 women-led teams annually across its campuses.

Inspired by Imperial College London’s successful WE Innovate initiative, the national network will replicate the structure of its six-month programme, which supports 25 promising women-led teams annually. The model has consistently delivered strong outcomes, resulting in the creation of numerous start-ups led by female founders.

To promote inclusive entrepreneurship, Imperial selected partner universities: Glasgow, Queen’s Belfast, Swansea, and Durham. Each will help launch the WE Innovate National network and tailor it to their regional innovation ecosystems. Designed to equip women founders with critical skills and strategic insights, the programme features business coaching, expert consultations, masterclasses, and peer-to-peer monitoring. The most promising five teams will vie for a portion of the £30,000 prize pool.

“Expanding opportunities for women in entrepreneurship is not only a matter of equity – it is essential to diversifying the innovation pipeline and driving inclusive, sustainable growth,” Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial College London’s vice-provost , said.

Over the last decade, the programme has empowered more than 500 women and 250 teams, resulting in 60+ start-ups launched at Imperial. Collectively, these ventures have secured upwards of £40 million in funding.

Uzma Khan, vice-principal for Economic Development and Innovation, and deputy chief operating officer at the University of Glasgow, said: “The University is passionate about supporting all students and graduates who have aspirations of starting their own ventures. We equally recognise the importance of ensuring that women founders are given every opportunity to develop successful businesses.” “We are therefore delighted to be asked to participate in the WE Innovate National rollout as a way of supporting women entrepreneurs to establish, grow and scale their ideas into successful businesses.”