Shaping Business: The Women Redefining What’s Next - May
70%
Of AYM Studio’s £3.2m revenue now comes from international markets
£500M
Capital committed by BGF to women-led businesses
£6.5M
Revenue reached by Hair Syrup, launched from a student kitchen
The first issue of Shaping Business from Cavendish’s Women of Influence programme lands with purpose: to spotlight the entrepreneurs, investors, and stories shaping the future of business. If you’re a founder, executive, or board member navigating complex decisions, this update is for you - offering practical ideas and lived experiences from women who are defining the agenda.
Real Stories, Real Impact
What makes this edition stand out is its commitment to substance over noise. You’ll meet women like Alie Mackintosh, who started AYM Studio with just £14 and a box of fabric. Today, her business generates £3.2 million in revenue - 70% of it from overseas - and has earned the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Her story is proof that thoughtful design and social media savvy can power global growth.
Then there’s Lucie Macleod of Hair Syrup: rejected on Dragons’ Den, she doubled down instead of pivoting, building a £6.5 million brand that’s now on shelves at Boots, ASOS, and Sephora. It’s a story of Gen Z grit, self-belief, and building a business with strong ethics at its core.
Investment Is Shifting – And It’s Working
Cavendish also highlights how the investment landscape is changing, with the BGF committing over £500 million to women-led businesses since 2011. Their message is clear: backing women isn’t niche, it’s just smart business. Long-term, minority investments in scale-up ventures are shifting the mainstream.
Why Wellness Brands Are Winning
The report shows that health-conscious, purpose-led brands - many led by women - aren’t just being acquired, they’re changing the rules of what investors want. Think Deliciously Ella and Wild: they’re not just joining the market, they’re remaking it. As Cavendish Director Rebecca McCredie comments, “It’s not just that health-conscious and purpose-led brands are being acquired – it’s that they’re changing what buyers are looking for.”
Reinventing Sectors: From Bridal to Boardrooms
Fashion is in the mix too, with Kate Halfpenny’s 20-year journey transforming bridalwear through craftsmanship, accessibility, and bold strategy. Even a pandemic setback became a launchpad for global growth - proof that reinvention and resilience go hand in hand.
Other News & Events that maybe of interest
From Promise to Power: Building an Economy That Works for Women Founders
Women at the Helm of the Future Fifty
Shaping Business: Women Defining What’s Next - September
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