What Happened in Leeds This Week Should Be a Wake-Up Call for All of Us

A powerful event took place in Leeds, and it didn’t make enough noise. Female leaders, founders, and change-makers came together to talk about how we can finally start closing the gender gap for women running small businesses (SMEs).

Why does this matter? Because women-led businesses still face barriers that shouldn’t exist in 2025. From funding to networks, and even finding mentors who truly get it, the journey to scale a business as a woman is harder than it needs to be.

What’s different about this event is that it wasn’t just another panel, real conversations were had. Hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses, and backed by government voices, they highlighted something we’ve known at Orlune since day one: women don’t need more fluff, we need more access.

Some key takeaways?

• Women-run businesses are still underrepresented in every region of the UK.

• The North in particular (hi, Leeds!) needs more inclusive business support.

• There’s a call for policy changes, tailored funding, and grassroots community support, not just corporate lip service.

This is exactly why Orlune exists. To fill the gap between government promises and what actually gets delivered. To create spaces where women don’t just feel heard—they feel helped.

We’ll be watching what happens next after this event, but in the meantime, we’re staying focused on what we can control: real connection, access to knowledge, and a network that’s built for women who are ready to grow, on their terms.

If this fires you up like it does us, come be part of the movement. Because change won’t happen unless we make it loud.