TAF Community

TAF Best Practice Guide: Supporting Female-Led Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Trade Associations

The Trade Association Forum (TAF) is seeking insights from trade associations on how they are supporting female-led businesses and female entrepreneurs across the UK.

We are looking for your examples of good practice so we can better understand the challenges and needs, and ultimately highlight the role of trade associations in supporting female led businesses to succeed.

This work builds on the Women in Trade Associations Powerlist initiative, launched jointly by TAF, FSB and CBI. The Powerlist celebrates outstanding women working in trade associations and showcases the growing influence of women in shaping the future of UK industry and business policy.

We now want to explore how these women, along with the broader sector, are turning this progress into action through the communities and networks they offer, and services and partnerships they develop.

Your responses will help shape:

A best practice guide for trade associations;
A set of case studies showcasing impactful initiatives that members have undertaken;We welcome contributions from across your organisation and thank you in advance for your time.

Why is this important?

Female business leaders and entrepreneurs face significant barriers compared to their male counterparts. These include limited access to finance, underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making spaces, gender bias in procurement and investment, and reduced access to networks and mentors.

These challenges often result in lower business growth rates, reduced investment, and slower scaling. By better supporting female-led businesses, we unlock the potential for greater innovation, productivity, and resilience across sectors.

Inclusive economic growth benefits everyone, and trade associations have a pivotal role to play in catalysing this change.

What do we mean by a Female Led Business?

A business that is majority female owned
A business that is majority female run

Please fill in the form below with as much information as possible, but please note that not all questions are compulsory.

If you would prefer to send us an example or a case study by email, please do send this to secretariat@taforum.org by 23rd January 2026.

Supporting Female-Led Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Trade Associations

About Your Organisation

Name of Trade Association

Number and types of member businesses

Sector/Industry represented

About You

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email Address

Organisational Culture and Leadership

Does your trade association have internal targets, strategies, or policies related to gender diversity?

Yes

No

If so, what are some examples of those targets, strategies or policies?

How are women represented in your leadership, board, or governance structures?

How do you ensure that the voices of female entrepreneurs or business leaders are heard in your policy development or member services?

Current Support for Female-Led Businesses

What initiatives or programmes do you currently offer that support female-led businesses or female entrepreneurs?

Are any of these programmes specifically designed for women?

Do you collect data on your or engagement levels in activity by gender?

Yes

No

Please provide any comments on the engagement level by gender

How do you celebrate and promote female business leaders within your membership?

Barriers and Opportunities

In your view, what are the main barriers facing female entrepreneurs in your sector?

What challenges has your association faced in trying to support female-led businesses?

What more could your association do to support female led businesses?

Best Practice Guidance

Do you want to take part in the Best Practice Guidance?

Tick here if you would like to be considered for inclusion as a case study

Tick here if you are open to contributing further to the development of this guidance

Tick here if you would not like to be included in either of the above

Needs and Recommendations

What types of external support or resources would your trade association find valuable?

Are there policy changes or structural issues you believe need to be addressed?

Are there partnerships or networks you engage with to support female business leaders and entrepreneurs?