It might be the last day of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day is over, but honestly, there’s never not a good time to support female-owned businesses, especially when there are so many brands in London who are also doing business ethically.

Whilst the number of female entrepreneurs is only growing, there remains a lot to overcome before that number is on par with male entrepreneurs. Female founders are especially disadvantaged when it comes to accessing funding despite the fact they are more likely to do better in the long run. 

As a company with two female co-founders ourselves, we think its really important to support other women-owned businesses.

So we wanted to spotlight a few incredible ones which are doing ‘good’ work so you can join us in supporting them. Not only to help them grow and gain the attention they deserve, but also to ensure that their success inspires others into the amazing world of entrepreneurship.

Luminary Bakery

From delicious carrot cakes to beautifully decorated wedding cakes Luminary Bakery creates insanely tasty baked goods perfect for any occasion. But that’s not all.  This social enterprise works to support women through the social and economic disadvantages specific to them. 

Luminary Bakery runs a multifaceted Progression Support Programme which provides employability and holistic support, empowering women to build their careers.

Women are taught transferable skills such as time management and baking skills, how to budget and engage in healthy workplace communication. They graduate with a Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification and a strong and supportive network.

The Progression Team then supports women in sourcing work and applying for jobs whilst addressing other challenges such as childcare, poor housing conditions or physical health.

So, with every Salted Caramel Brownie you buy, you are helping support someone to independence. 

There is no doubt then that this is a business worth celebrating. 

They have two cafes - one in Chalk Farm, Camden, and the other in Stoke Newington, Hackney. 

Sohaila

Sohalia is the latest restaurant from the social enterprise Fat Macy's, which trains and supports Londoners living in temporary accommodation and helps them move into their own homes.

Located on Shoreditch High Street, just a stone's throw away from the station and Shoreditch Boxpark, Sohalia serves contemporary Middle Eastern sharing plates, with a library of over 100 natural wines.

Highlights of their menu include shish barak, hand-folded stuffed dumplings drizzled with spiced yoghurt, and salted cod paired with crisp marinda tomatoes, olives and red onion. Their menu changes regularly to reflect what's in season and prices for plates are mostly between £7 - £12.

There's a wine bar downstairs in addition to the restaurant space and they are open Tuesday to Saturday.

Fat Macy's unique training programme lets participants access a deposit for their own home after completing 200 hours. They have been catering events since 2016 and Sohalia is their second restaurant. So far, 30 trainees have completed their programme.

 Fat Macy’s was cofounded by Meg and Nathalie. ⁠Meg dreamt up Fat Macy's after working in a North London hostel and seeing first hand how much residents loved the weekly cooking classes. She brought Nathalie onboard to help grow Fat Macy's into the flourishing charity and food business it has become today.⁠

Batch and Co

Batch & Co serve a bespoke blend espresso ethically sourced & roasted by London's Caravan Coffee Roasters, who are also a good company and members of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their revenue to environmental causes.

Their aim is a simple one. They are passionate people who want to serve great, yummy, quality products whilst ensuring Batch & Co is a relaxing and inclusive place for anyone in the community to kick back and chill out.

They also offer pastries, cakes, organic sourdough sandwiches, and simple brunch and lunch options every day from 9 am to take away and eat in. Batch & Co offer alternatives for gluten-free & vegan diets too.

They are also a deli shop, stocking good quality artisan local products. Their focus is on fresh, ethical & good quality ingredients sourced locally whenever possible.

Batch & Co were founded by Jen. We loved their International Women’s Day post to strong women - “If like us you are a Women led business, May you employ them, May you nurture them, May you empower them to be the best they can be! Strong women lift up other women”

We couldn’t agree more! 

Batch & Co have two Streatham locations - one on Streatham Hill and one on Streatham High Road. 

69b boutique

69b Boutique has been open in East London’s Broadway Market for ten years and was one of the original sustainable fashion stores in London. They vet all the brands they stock to ensure they combine fair working conditions and sustainable, high-quality materials to make beautiful products that last. Brands include People Tree, Ninety Percent, Pink City Prints, Lowie, Seventy + Mochi and Re/DRESS. 69b sells both womenswear and menswear, as well as a range of accessories.

69b Boutique was a finalist for the prestigious Drapers Sustainability Award 2022 and they are also a certified Living Wage Employer. They regularly appear on roundups of the best sustainable fashion stores in London.

69b changed owner recently and was bought by a local resident and long-time shopper there, Emma, so it continues to be a female-owned business, with a predominantly female team. 

Leiho

Leiho is a social enterprise, where every purchase helps to fund impact-driven projects and essential items for those in need. From their range of smiley bamboo socks to organic cotton tees, their mission is to inspire a more purposeful way of gifting and wearing socks whilst also improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities.

All Leiho socks are made using bamboo, an environmentally friendly, temperature adapting and hypoallergenic material that’s also super soft. Just what you want in a sock. So, whether as a treat for your own feet or a gift for someone else, buying a pair of Leiho socks is a step towards fostering a positive difference for people who need it.

For every pair of cosy bamboo socks sold, another pair goes to a person experiencing homelessness. As they’ve grown, Leiho has expanded its product range to include beanies, water bottles and tote bags. Through these, they also donate other essentials that we often take for granted, like underwear, a healthy meal, toiletries or even clean water. 

The female co-founders, Joey Li and Thuta Khin brainstormed Leiho after meeting during a masters course where they discovered a shared ambition for building a business with purpose. The seed for Leiho was planted when they discovered socks are the most needed item at homeless shelters.

Joey and Thuta hope their products inspire more acts of kindness in all areas of our lives, which they believe leads to better well-being for us all.

Whilst they don’t have a permanent bricks and mortar store, they regularly appear at pop-ups and markets across London so definitely deserve a place on this list! 

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