Photo by James Padolsey on Unsplash
The world is home to a whole host of creative and talented female leaders running their own businesses. Unfortunately, some cities aren’t as supportive as others when it comes to empowering female leaders. If you’re a female business owner, this means it can be hard choosing a city to start your business. You’ll need to consider safety, inclusivity, and networking opportunities.
One city where female solopreneurs won’t be short of support is London. If you choose to set up camp in London as a female in business, you’ll be surrounded by innovation, diversity, and opportunity. Not to mention the abundance of ways you can spend your time outside of work too. While there are many reasons that make London a great choice for female solopreneurs, we’ve picked out four of the best things about London for female solopreneurs.
Diversity
London is one of the most multicultural and inclusive cities on the planet. Regardless of your gender, age, or background, you’ll find a community of like-minded people in London who have similar stories to yours. This is one of the main factors that draws women from all over the world to the city of London.
London’s vast diversity means there is a role model for every individual, regardless of what you’re inspired by. The increasingly popular Starling Bank which is based in London is a great example of this – Starling was the first British bank to be founded by a female and highlights perfectly how far businesswomen can go in the UK. There are also many examples of women who have immigrated to London before setting up successful businesses.
Crowdfunding
One of the biggest challenges facing startups is finance. Securing financial backing can be the difference between success and your idea not even getting off the ground. If your business is looking to secure funding, your location can have a big impact.
Fortunately, London’s wealth means finance is more accessible compared to other major cities. In fact, London is the best European city for startups when measured by the number of business ideas—beaten only by New York and Los Angeles—with an average of £12,500 pledged per startup idea.
The Women Backing Women campaign was launched by the UK government with the aim of increasing the number of female angel investors too. This should hopefully kickstart a new generation of female entrepreneurs backed by other females and would indicate that London could become an even bigger hot spot for female entrepreneurship.
Networking and Mentoring
If you’re a female entrepreneur in London, you’ll be surrounded by fellow female leaders. As a result, you’ll have an abundance of options when it comes to building a network or even securing a mentor.
London’s inclusive nature and strong standing in the business means you’ll find plenty of events and meetups that can put you in contact with like-minded individuals. Check out the top women in business events that can all be accessed via London’s helpful transport links and city centre car parks.
London’s co-working scene is also one of the best in London and some are even geared towards females. The Hearth in Queen’s Park and AllBright in Mayfair are two of the most popular female-only spaces in London.
Support
London offers a tonne of support, both in business and in life in general. In terms of business support, there are several government initiatives that are designed to support entrepreneurs from a business standpoint and a financial standpoint. The UK also has a Women in Innovation programme that funds and supports female-led businesses.
Outside of work, the UK is one of the most advanced countries when it comes to mental health and wellness. While it can be stressful and demanding to run your own business, London is one of the most supportive cities when times get tough. You’ll find that there are plenty of places to turn to if you are struggling with mental health but also many communities you can join to support your mental wellbeing. Yoga studios and meditation classes are popular in London as more people become aware of taking care of themselves mentally.
Final Thoughts
London is a fantastic place for entrepreneurs, regardless of your gender or background. Women in particular may feel empowered in London due to the strong support network that surrounds them. The city’s diversity and commitment to inclusivity also help women settle into the city, especially if they are moving to the UK from another country. In terms of business, the hustle and bustle of London very much helps you to stay in work mode. On the other hand, there are plenty of ways to spend your spare time and there’s no shortage of communities you can join. On the whole, female solopreneurs will experience a perfect blend of work and leisure when relocating to London so we’d highly recommend it as a location for setting up camp as a female solopreneur.
Amy Jones is a freelance writer from Manchester and has written for many different business publications. With a range of knowledge in the business and investing sector, she is an avid researcher and writer in the field. Having worked closely with a number of different businesses, Amy is now looking to specialize in workplace health and disputes and is currently researching and working closely with different health brands for this.