Tide Partners with Everywoman to Empower Female Entrepreneurs
Tide has officially announced its headline sponsorship of the Everywoman Awards, marking a significant milestone in the Tide Everywoman partnership aimed at boosting female entrepreneurship across the UK. This collaboration is set to support female business owners through a year-long, high-impact program designed to unlock new opportunities for female founders eager to elevate their businesses.
The Everywoman Awards: A Launchpad for Success
Since their inception in 2003, the Everywoman Awards have served as a springboard for countless female entrepreneurs. These awards provide a gateway to transformative partnerships, commercial deals, and investment opportunities that can dramatically accelerate business growth. By shining a spotlight on the UK’s most inspiring female entrepreneurs—from early-stage start-ups to multimillion-pound scale-ups—the awards offer a platform for visibility, networking, and long-term success.
A New Name and a Renewed Commitment
This year’s event, scheduled for December, will be renamed the ‘Tide Everywoman Entrepreneur Awards,’ reflecting the company’s dedication to advancing female entrepreneurship. Through its Women in Business program, Tide has pledged to help launch 200,000 female-led businesses by the end of 2027. This partnership underscores the shared values of inclusion and support between Tide and Everywoman.
Grant Opportunities for Female Founders
To ensure a tangible impact, Tide will award a £20,000 grant to one exceptional female-founded SME. The recipient will be chosen by an awards judging panel from among the eligible finalists and announced during the event. This grant aims to alleviate some of the financial barriers that female entrepreneurs face, providing them with the resources needed to grow their businesses.
Addressing Funding Challenges
Tide and Everywoman’s commitment to supporting women business owners comes at a critical time when access to funding remains a significant hurdle. Currently, only 2.8p of every £1 of equity investment in the UK goes to fully female-founded businesses. This disparity has profound implications for the UK GDP, as up to £250 billion in new value could be added to the economy if women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as men.
A Year-Long Support Program
In light of the challenges facing female entrepreneurs, Tide is embarking on a year-long high-impact program alongside Everywoman. This initiative will include masterclasses and scale-up workshops designed to equip women with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of business ownership.
The Current Landscape for Female Entrepreneurs
Women are starting new businesses at record levels, yet Tide’s research reveals that the process remains fraught with difficulties. The Female Business Owners Index indicates that many new business owners are struggling with challenging economic conditions. Nearly two in five (38%) of Tide’s female members have put their business growth plans on hold due to high interest rates, energy costs, and inflation.
The Importance of SMEs
Unlocking investment is particularly challenging for SMEs, which account for around 99.8% of all businesses in the UK. Tide’s Index highlights that the top challenge for women business owners is accessing finance, with three in five (63%) struggling to secure necessary funds. A quarter (25%) report that this financial difficulty negatively impacts their business.
Sponsoring the Small Enterprise Award
To further emphasize the importance of female-led SMEs to the UK economy, Tide will sponsor the Small Enterprise Award category at the Everywoman Awards. This sponsorship aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of small enterprises led by women.
Voices from the Leaders
Maxine Benson MBE and Karen Gill MBE, co-founders of Everywoman, commented on the partnership, stating, “The UK has a growing number of inspiring entrepreneurial women, but sustained support and strategic investment are necessary to accelerate business growth. Tide’s commitment to supporting 200,000 female-led businesses makes them the perfect partner for Everywoman’s Entrepreneur Awards program.”
George Schmidt, Tide UK/Europe CEO, expressed pride in the partnership, stating, “Our Female Business Owners Index underlines the unique battle that female entrepreneurs face in today’s economy. This active partnership, alongside our year-long program of masterclasses, workshops, and the vital £20,000 grant, is focused on helping more women to flourish in business.”
The Tide Everywoman Entrepreneur Awards
Through the Tide Everywoman partnership, more women-led businesses will gain visibility and essential support. The Tide Everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, will take place on December 2nd at The Londoner, Leicester Square. To learn more about the awards or to nominate someone, visit Everywoman Awards. The deadline for entries is July 14, 2025.
Award Categories for 2025
The 2025 awards will feature several categories, including:
- The Balance Award: For founders raising children aged 12 or under
- Brand of the Future: Sponsored by The White Company
- Entrepreneur for Good Award: Sponsored by Specsavers
- International Expansion Award: Sponsored by Rathbone Financial Planning
- The Next Level Award: For businesses with £1m+ EBITDA
- Scale Up Award: Sponsored by BGF
- Social Star Award: For social media-driven business growth
- Solopreneur Award: For independent sole traders
- Small Enterprise Award: Sponsored by Tide
- Tech Innovator Award
This initiative not only aims to empower individual female entrepreneurs but also seeks to reshape the entrepreneurial landscape in the UK, unlocking significant economic potential.