Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to set out plans to close the gender pay gap and improve economic opportunities for women.
Reeves has backed the Invest in Women Taskforce, the successor to the Rose Review, which found a £250bn boost could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled their businesses at the same rate as men.
The taskforce aims to build a funding pool of more than £250mn for female-founded businesses through private capital.
This would be one of the world's largest investment funding pools aimed solely at women.
Today (September 18) the chancellor is set to host a reception at 11 Downing Street where she is expected to set out her agenda for women in the economy.
She is set to vow to improve the economic opportunities available to women and close the gender pay gap, including strengthening rights at work and investing in childcare.
Reeves said: "By backing the Invest in Women Taskforce we can establish one of the world’s largest dedicated investment funding pools for female-powered businesses, helping grow our economy.
"This event gathers together some very powerful women but the truth is, everyone can do something for women’s equality – whether that’s supporting the women and girls in their lives with their ambitions or making their workplace a fairer playing field."
At the moment, women represent just 21 per cent of business owners, while less than 6 per cent of active equity backed companies founded by women.
tara.o'connor@ft.com
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