UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerators - Leeds and Birmingham

UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerators - Leeds and Birmingham

Women Beyond Borders: Take Your Business Global with UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator in Partnership with Lifted Ventures.

• Leeds: BOOK HERE - Tuesday 4 November, 12noon - 2pm, Bruntwood, Platform. New Station Street Leeds LS1 4JB
• Birmingham: BOOK HERE - Tuesday 11 November, 12noon - 2pm, Spanish Steps at Bruntwood Scitech's Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC). Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, Selly Oak Birmingham B29 6TH

Both hosted by UKEF & Lifted Ventures (includes networking lunch)

Are you a female founder running a revenue-generating business and ready to take the next step into international markets?

UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Lifted Ventures have created a first-of-its-kind collaboration to support women-led and women-owned businesses, from diverse backgrounds, who want to expand globally, scale faster and access the finance and tools needed to succeed beyond the UK.

The UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator in Partnership with Lifted Ventures launches in January 2026 and is designed to equip female founders with the insight, support, and funding pathways they need to scale internationally with confidence.

The accelerator programme is a four-month programme, comprising both in person and virtual accelerated learning workshops along with mentoring and coaching.

To launch the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator and give founders the opportunity to find out if the programme is for them, we’re hosting two events this Autumn.

They are not generic networking events - these events are built for serious, ambitious female founders who are:

• Already exporting and want to accelerate international growth
• Preparing to expand into global markets within the next 12 - 24 months
• Curious about exporting but need clear, practical first steps and how to access the finance to do so

You’ll hear from women founders from diverse backgrounds who’ve successfully taken their businesses global, sharing honest insights on the opportunities and challenges.

We welcome ambitious women founders across every sector and community in the UK. We especially encourage participation from underrepresented groups who are driving innovation and growth.

What You’ll Gain:

• Export-readiness insights from experts and female founders from diverse backgrounds, who’ve already gone global.
• Clear understanding of the full suite of UKEF support available to scale internationally.
• First look at the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator, including how to apply.
• A room full of like-minded female founders from diverse backgrounds, with the same ambition: going beyond UK borders.

Event Agenda:

• Welcome plenary - UKEF & Lifted Ventures
• Panel discussion - Export Breakthrough: Get Your Business Ready for Global Markets
• About the accelerator programme - Application criteria & opportunities
• Fireside Chat - hear from a female founder who has successfully scaled globally
• Networking & Lunch

Speakers and panellists to be announced.

Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. If you register but are unable to attend, please cancel your registration through Eventbrite so we can offer your spot to someone else.