Around 10 per cent of mortgage finance companies registered last year were launched by women, a reduction from 18 per cent the year prior.
According to research from Instant Office, which analysed Companies House data, a total of 692 firms were registered under “activities of mortgage finance companies” in 2022. This is seven per cent up on the figures from 2021.
The research showed that 71 were launched by women, representing roughly 10 per cent of the total.
This is a fall year-on-year as there were 115 mortgage finance companies launched by women out of 647 total companies in 2021, or equivalent to 18 per cent.
Mortgage finance companies covers activities of specialist mortgage finance companies other than banks and building societies.
The Rose Review Progress Report, which examines businesses led by women, showed that over 150,000 businesses were founded by women in 2022 and around a fifth of all business incorporations were female-led.
However, the report said that half of female business leaders and entrepreneurs found access to funding and investment more challenging in the past year.
John Williams, chief marketing officer at Instant Offices, added: “Research shows that 54 per cent of small businesses, 64 per cent of medium ones and 59 per cent of large companies reported improved business outcomes when implementing initiatives to improve gender diversity.
“Studies have also shown women score higher than men in most leadership skills.”
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
