HSBC UK backs Birmingham-born women's business network The 51% Club as banking partner

The 51% Club, a network for women in business that started in Birmingham just over two years ago, has signed HSBC UK as its Regional Banking Partner, in a tie-up aimed at making the Midlands one of the best places in the UK to grow a women-led business.

The partnership, reported by Brum News on 11 November, opens the bank's support programmes for women business owners to the club's 2,500-strong community of founders.

From one city to five hubs

The 51% Club was founded in Birmingham by Tara Attfield-Tomes and now runs five hubs, in Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Leicester, London and Worcester. More than 2,500 women belong to its community, which is organised around four "rooms": Grow, Scale, Exit and Lead. Its annual IGNITE conference brought 250 founders to Millennium Point in September.

Under the partnership, members get closer access to HSBC UK's Women's Business Growth Initiative, which offers events, networking, masterclasses and personalised funding support for women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Members can also use the bank's free Small Business Growth Programme, which is open to all and offers training, events and insights.

Closing a stubborn gap

Both organisations point to the scale of the challenge. Only two to four per cent of women-led businesses in the UK reach £1 million in revenue, and businesses founded only by women received just 2% of venture capital in 2024.

Ms Attfield-Tomes said: "We are so proud to welcome HSBC UK as our Regional Banking Partner. From the very beginning, The 51% Club has been about building a real ecosystem for women in business, providing the support, the rooms, and the relationships they deserve, and doing it properly."

She said the bank's Women's Business Growth Initiative sat "right alongside" the club's mission, giving its community closer access to support as they grow.

"Removing barriers"

Jagdeep Rai, managing director and UK head of coverage for SME business banking at HSBC UK, said the partnership would combine education, networking and one-to-one funding conversations. "We can help open the door to new possibilities and give women the confidence and support to take their businesses forward," he said.

Tom Wood, head of SME business banking at HSBC UK, said: "HSBC UK is committed to removing barriers that prevent women founders from starting, sustaining and scaling businesses." He described the partnership as "vital" to unlocking opportunities for women-led businesses.

What's next

The partnership will run across The 51% Club's events and programmes, with more activity due to be announced in the coming months. For women in Birmingham running a business, or thinking of starting one, it is another sign that the city is becoming a stronger place to build a company, with a homegrown network now backed by one of the country's biggest banks.