Prime Highlights
- Nationwide has become the sole banking partner of Female Founders Rise, supporting more than 12,000 female entrepreneurs and non-binary founders.
- The partnership aims to improve access to banking, funding support and business development resources for early-stage businesses.
Key Facts
- Nationwide plans to launch its own business banking services for small and medium-sized businesses next year.
- Female Founders Rise, founded in 2022, offers funding support, training, networking events and business programmes for entrepreneurs across the UK.
Background
Nationwide has become the exclusive banking partner of Female Founders Rise (FFR), which is one of the biggest communities in the UK for female entrepreneurs and non-binary founders. The collaboration is designed to help in the growth of more than 12,000 FFR members.
The collaboration unites Nationwide’s approach to business assistance and community development with the mission of FFR to create sustainable and profitable ventures for new founders. The partnership comes ahead of Nationwide’s planned launch of its own business banking services for small and medium-sized businesses next year. At present, the group offers business banking through its Virgin Money brand.
According to the Rise Report, increasing the number of women starting and growing businesses at the same rate as men could add up to £310 billion to the UK economy. The partnership aims to tackle a few of those obstacles that female entrepreneurs run into by boosting access to funding support, increasing networking opportunities and also offering more business guidance.
Founded in 2022, Female Founders Rise provides funding support, expert-led training, networking events and business development programmes across the UK. Members can also take part in an eight-week fundraising accelerator, attend masterclasses and join conferences designed to help businesses grow.
Nationwide said the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting female-led businesses and strengthening the wider small business sector. FFR said working with Nationwide will help it expand its reach and support more entrepreneurs across the country.
