What does SHEconomy mean?
The term “sheconomy” merges “she” and “economy”—referring to the expanding economic influence of women as consumers, earners, entrepreneurs, and leaders. It captures how women increasingly shape market demand, workplace dynamics, firm leadership, and broader economic growth. (source: Global Fintech Market)
Originating in the early 2000s and popularised in a 2010 Time article, sheconomy reflects the shift toward women’s economic centrality globally as the world experiences demographic changes. (source: ResearchGate)
It’s suggested that factors impacting this trend are:
- Social: There are more single women with more financial autonomy.
- Economic: More women in more high-paying careers.
- Demographic: Baby boomer widows and longer life spans in women.
- Cultural: More women in control of financial management and investment.
Recent Trends in the SHEconomy – UK & London
1. Rising Female Employment & Entrepreneurship
- In 2023, the UK employment rate for women aged 16–64 was 72.1%, signalling robust female workforce participation. – source: Investingstrategy.co.uk
- Women-owned businesses surged from ~56,000 in 2018 to over 151,600 in 2022, contributing £85 billion to SMEs’ gross value-added (about 16%). – source: Investingstrategy.co.uk
- In London (Southeast UK as cited region), self‑employment among women is particularly high—Edinburgh and the Southeast led with a female-to-male ratio of 39%. – source: Investingstrategy.co.uk
- Women’s control over assets in Europe is also expected to grow significantly, with estimates reaching $11.4 trillion and 47% of all EU assets by 2030. European millennial women’s reported confidence increased by 32 percentage points between 2018 and 2023. – source: McKinsey
2. Increased Business Support & Funding for Women
- In July 2025, the UK government launched a £450 million fund aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs. – source: UK Government
- Despite this, only ~2p per £1 of UK venture capital goes to all-female teams, though women-led small businesses worldwide saw revenue grow by 56% year‑on‑year. – source: UK Government
3. Women Entering High‑Growth, High‑Impact Sectors
- Women have a strong presence in e‑commerce, fintech, media, health tech, wellness, and mission-driven brands. In London, ecosystem support from accelerators, fintech hubs, and creative sectors further amplifies this trend. – source: ResearchGate
4. Market Power and Consumer Influence of Women
- Women now drive over 75% of consumer spending in the UK, with single women especially outspending average households in fashion, food‑out, luxury goods, and electric vehicles. – source: Morgan Stanley
- This translates into considerable market power in cities like London, where consumer consumption trends are closely shaped by female purchasing decisions. In London, it’s estimated that 25-30% of adult women are single, equating to around 1.4 million single female Londoners.
5. Structural Influence & Leadership of Women
- Women’s representation in UK boards and FTSE leadership continues improving, though still below parity: 9% of FTSE 100 CEOs, 6% of FTSE 350 are women (as of 2022). – source: Investingstrategy.co.uk
- UK-level initiatives are pushing gender-smart policy and corporate diversity frameworks, echoing broader global emphasis on embedding women in decision‑making.
Summary: London’s Sheconomy Snapshot
| Status | Mid‑2025 |
| Workforce Participation | ~72% employment among women aged 16–64; London leading regionally |
| Entrepreneurship | Rapid growth in women-owned small businesses; high self-employment in Southeast |
| Government Backing | New ÂŁ450M UK fund dedicated to female founders |
| Funding Gap | Women-led teams still receive very low VC share (~2p/ÂŁ1) despite strong revenue momentum |
| Sector Impact | Leadership in fintech, wellness, e‑commerce, media, London tech/creative hub ecosystem |
| Consumer Influence | Women drive significant spending; single women disproportionately influence retail categories |
London Business News Sheconomy Case Studies:
London has seen a steady rise in women-led startups, particularly in tech, design, and sustainable products, but we further cover thriving startup key sectors on our platform. A good example is the entrepreneur story of Lucy Rout, who featured in the hit show Dragon’s Den.
It appears that the spa and wellness industry, especially in urban hubs like London, is being shaped by women’s preferences around clean living, sustainable wellness, mindfulness, and self-care. At the LBN magazine, we feature luxury hotels in London with spa offerings and inform about spa etiquette.
Female investors and spenders are invested in long-term impacts and niches that impact them and their community. The LBN team interviewed Nevine Coutry, who founded single-parenting dating app Playdate, and learned that her journey of becoming a single mother led her to develop and launch it.
Digital entrepreneur Fernando Raymond urges entrepreneurs, startups and businesses to take advantage of the huge service industry opportunities the capital offers in this guide. And with more female investment and buying power in the UK capital, the trend is clear: there’s certainly more to come in London’s hospitality, health and wellness, beauty, leisure and home and living sectors!
At the LBN magazine, we’ll certainly keep you in the loop!
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