The UK’s most extraordinary female founders have been unveiled as the finalists for the 2024 everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, the UK’s longest-running recognition programme for women in business. Now in their 22nd year, the awards set out to uncover and amplify the diverse array of female-led businesses, recognising them as influential role models for future generations, and celebrating their economic contribution.
Selected from nearly a thousand entries, the 2024 finalists are at different stages on their entrepreneurial journey, from multi-million-pound empires to those spearheading social enterprise for the greater good, or solopreneurs starting out. They also span diverse industries – from beauty and fashion to medical innovations and hospitality, food manufacturing to publishing houses, to name a few.
The UK government has an ambitious target to increase the number of female entrepreneurs by 50% by 2030, adding 600,000 businesses to the market and boosting the UK economy by a projected £250 billion. However, the funding gap and lack of female role models have been recognised as a unique and key barrier for women starting, growing, and scaling their businesses.
Caroline Hoggarth, Founder of A Fold of Chairs, from St Albans has been announced as a finalist in the Solopreneur Award category, celebrating an inspiring woman running a business as an independent sole trader.
Founder and CEO of a fold of chairs, Caroline retrained as a traditional upholsterer after a career in marketing and time at home with her four children. Opening her first store in 2023 after building a strong online presence, she uses her background and deep knowledge of collecting midcentury art and design to create a space for buying and restoring beautiful vintage furniture. Caroline aims to demonstrate that sustainable furniture is an option for everybody.
"I have been incredibly proud to judge the everywoman Entrepreneur Awards this year," says Gemma Hamilton, investor and origination at BGF. "The finalists represent the very best of female entrepreneurship, showcasing remarkable innovation, resilience and leadership across a range of exciting and diverse industries. We hope this year’s nominees inspire many more female founders and showcase to the wider investment industry the huge potential for growth that exists in women-led businesses across the country.”
