The Development Bank of Wales has now worked with over 900 women involved in the ownership of companies in Wales.

This includes female-founded start-ups in the bio-science and software technology sectors, female-led management buyout teams across a number of sectors including manufacturing, marketing and retail.

Recent companies supported by the Development Bank include fashion retailer Modest Trends in Cardiff, who received a £12,000 micro loan to open a new shop. Forth, a Chepstow-based business which creates personal biomarker profiles using at-home blood testing kits, received a £250,000 equity investment to support marketing and further commercialisation. And north Wales artisan skincare company Bathing Beauty, who borrowed £45,000 to expand their retail premises in Denbighshire.

With 54% of managers being women, the Development Bank has recently become a registered FairPlay employer with equality charity Chwarae Teg. They have recently received Chwarae Teg’s Silver Award.

Research and Partnership Manager for the Development Bank of Wales Sian Price is also a member of the Welsh Government’s Supporting Entrepreneurial Women advisory group. She said:

“This International Women’s Day we want to celebrate the thousands of talented business women and entrepreneurs across Wales. We’ve had the pleasure of supporting ambitious women leading companies from a huge range of sectors. From software to biosciences, communications, retail, wholesale, property and professional services. To name but a few. We believe in a diverse workforce, that represents both the ambitions and needs of the people of Wales, and we’re proud to do that by partnering with hundreds of Welsh women to grow their businesses. We also believe in investing in our own people and are delighted to have recently received the Silver Award from Chwarae Teg for our work on gender equality.”