Hospitality and retail — sectors with a higher concentration of female-led businesses — reported even sharper increases in concern. Why This Matters for the EconomyThe fall in female-led firms is not just an issue of equality; it is an economic problem. Britain’s decline in women-led firms contrasts sharply with trends in other advanced economies. France has introduced dedicated financing schemes for female entrepreneurs, while Scandinavian countries — with higher female employment rates overall — report stronger growth in women-led SMEs. The Road AheadThe decline in women-led SMEs underscores the gap between government rhetoric and business reality.