The Women Powering Decarbonisation in the UK
Lily Ruaah, 12 December 2024
Decarbonisation is a vital process in the fight against climate change, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes, energy production, and daily life. The UK’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and international efforts like the Paris Agreement highlight the urgency of transitioning to sustainable practices.
While this progress often relies on large-scale initiatives, a less celebrated but equally important narrative is the role of women entrepreneurs and leaders in advancing decarbonisation efforts.
Despite the underrepresentation of women in industries like energy, transportation, and manufacturing, many female founders are pioneering innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
This article shines a spotlight on the women and companies redefining the path to net zero, celebrating their contributions across diverse sectors—from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to cutting-edge technology.
What is decarbonisation?
Decarbonisation refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions, primarily those resulting from human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes. It is a critical strategy in addressing climate change, aiming to help societies transition toward low-carbon or net-zero emissions.
Why is decarbonisation important?
Decarbonisation is essential for limiting global warming globally. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C—as called for in the Paris Agreement—emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
The UK’s Net Zero Strategy was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government. It states that the UK will hit net carbon zero by 2050, and to do this outlines a number of policies and proposals for decarbonising all industries across the UK.
At COP28 held in the UAE last year, nations finalised the inaugural global assessment of climate policies under the 2015 Paris Agreement, a process referred to as the global stocktake (GST). This milestone agreement included commitments to significantly expand renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it by 2030.
Countries also pledged to equitably shift away from fossil fuels in energy systems, aligning with the 2015 Paris Agreement’s objectives.
And while we may not have seen any significant progress for battling climate change in the recent COP29, the commitment to tripling renewable energy capacity remains. The UK and German governments also issued a joint declaration of cooperation on energy and climate, focusing on hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable energy in the North Sea.
Governments, businesses, and individuals all play a role in advancing decarbonisation efforts through policy, innovation, and sustainable practices.
50 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch
Key elements of decarbonisation
Decarbonisation is essential for limiting global warming globally. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C—as called for in the Paris Agreement—emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
The UK’s Net Zero Strategy was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government. It states that the UK will hit net carbon zero by 2050, and to do this outlines a number of policies and proposals for decarbonising all industries across the UK.
At COP28 held in the UAE last year, nations finalised the inaugural global assessment of climate policies under the 2015 Paris Agreement, a process referred to as the global stocktake (GST). This milestone agreement included commitments to significantly expand renewable energy capacity, aiming to triple it by 2030.
Countries also pledged to equitably shift away from fossil fuels in energy systems, aligning with the 2015 Paris Agreement’s objectives.
And while we may not have seen any significant progress for battling climate change in the recent COP29, the commitment to tripling renewable energy capacity remains. The UK and German governments also issued a joint declaration of cooperation on energy and climate, focusing on hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable energy in the North Sea.
Governments, businesses, and individuals all play a role in advancing decarbonisation efforts through policy, innovation, and sustainable practices.
Energy transition
Shifting from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.
Energy efficiency
Improving energy use in buildings, industries, and transportation to reduce overall emissions.
Electrification
Replacing processes powered by fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources, such as transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) or electric heating systems.
Behavioural changes
Encouraging shifts in consumption habits, such as reducing meat consumption, increasing public transportation use, or adopting sustainable practices.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
This involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions at their source—such as power plants or industrial facilities—and storing them underground to prevent atmospheric release.
At Beauhurst, we’ve introduced a new buzzword for carbon capture, allowing you to easily search and explore projects, companies, and innovations in this critical area of sustainability.
If you’re already a subscriber, try it for yourself by clicking the button below.
Women and decarbonisation
The companies we see at the forefront of any industry, particularly those in transport, energy and manufacturing, tend to be male-founded. In fact, when we look across companies that hit one or more of our environmental signals, we can see that a huge 81.4% have all male founders, with an extra 3.8% being majority male founded. Only 6.5% are all-female founded.
While this may be unsurprising, we see this generally across our data for all industries. For example if we look at all companies with an ‘active’ status on Companies House, we can see that just 17.2% of founders are female, compared to 82% male founders.
With this in mind, we wanted to take the time to celebrate some of the companies pushing net zero that are specifically founded by women.
A chat with Georgia Smith about the electric vehicle industry
As part of our look into women powering decarbonisation, we spoke to Georgia Smith from Virta about the UK’s electric vehicle industry.
Founded in Helsinki in 2013, Virta is a global pioneer in developing smart electric vehicle
charging services. The company was ranked on the Financial Times 1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list for the fifth time in a row in 2024.
Can you tell us a bit about how you view women and the EV industry?
“The UK’s electric vehicle industry is fascinating because it represents a blend of contrasts. Traditionally, the automotive sector has been heavily male-dominated, both in terms of workforce data and public perception, which can make it intimidating for women to enter. At the same time, the EV industry is newer and rapidly growing, offering fresh opportunities in decarbonisation—a field that has historically attracted significant interest from women.
This creates a unique dynamic, where an older, male-dominated tradition intersects with a forward-thinking, green industry. There’s definitely space for women to engage and lead, helping to drive the decarbonisation agenda forward.”
Do you think that being in electric vehicles as opposed to traditional automotives was important to you? Do you think that would be the same for most women?
“For me, joining the EV industry is about wanting to make a meaningful difference in the renewable energy sector. Unlike traditional car companies, even those transitioning to electric vehicles, the EV industry is already deeply focused on sustainability. It’s a complex ecosystem, with manufacturers, charger producers, software companies like Virta, and installation and maintenance providers all working together.
While women are still underrepresented, especially in manufacturing and installation, there seems to be greater inclusion in software and data-focused roles, likely because those jobs align better with how they’re marketed to women.”
How do you see the EV industry growing in the UK?
“The EV industry has grown significantly over the last decade, and with government policies pushing for net zero targets—like the requirement for 80% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030—this growth is set to continue. To support this transition, manufacturers must scale EV production, and the supporting infrastructure—charging networks, grid capacity, and energy storage—needs to expand rapidly. While the speed of growth is uncertain, the shift is inevitable.
As the industry scales, we’ll likely see more opportunities for women, especially in roles like marketing, which often develop as companies mature. However, a big challenge remains in encouraging women to enter male-dominated areas such as product development and data insights.”
"Research shows that companies with greater gender balance perform better financially, so investing in diversity isn’t just equitable—it’s smart business."
What do you think would attract more women into the EV industry?
“Social proof is critical for getting more women into male-dominated fields like EV. We need to see more senior women in these roles and give them platforms—through online content or public speaking—to showcase what’s possible. Representation matters.
Beyond visibility, it starts with education. Encouraging girls to study relevant subjects at school is essential, but it also requires a broader shift in societal expectations around gender roles—a slow and challenging process.
On a practical level, steps like using inclusive language in job descriptions can help make these roles feel more accessible and appealing to women. These efforts, combined, can create an environment where more women feel empowered to pursue these careers.”
A spotlight on female founders fueling decarbonisation
Methodology
To create our list of female founders fuelling decarbonisation, we looked at companies that:
- Have hit one or more of our environmental signals
- Have an ‘active’ status on Companies House
- Have 100% female founders
We’ve included all companies that hit one or more of our environmental signals as we believe these all contribute to decarbonisation. They have then been ranked by total equity raised.
What’s particularly interesting about our list is the wide range of industries across the companies, and the different ways in which those companies are supporting decarbonisation in the UK.
10.
FA Bio
Founders: Angela De Manzanos Guinot, Kerry O’Donnelly Weaver
FA Bio creates microbial treatments, specialising in biofungicides and biofertilisers.
Originally established in 2015 as FungiAlert, FA Bio was founded by Angela De Manzanos Guinot and Kerry O’Donnelly Weaver. It began with a mission to create tools that promote regenerative agriculture and transform disease management practices. The company’s SporSenZ technology, developed during the founders’ PhD research at Imperial College London, was designed to enable early detection of soil pathogens.
SporSenZ was used for soil microbial analysis and early identification of soil disease risks. However, in 2021, FA Bio shifted its focus, using its technology to discover unique microbes for biocontrol and biostimulant products, providing growers with advanced solutions to support sustainable farming.
The company has received a patent for its technology and six grants. It’s gone through eight funding rounds, raising a total of £7.63m. It hit two of our environmental signals, one for sustainable farming and food production and the other for environmental accolades. This second signal means that the company has received backing from organisations that support companies working towards sustainability.
09.
Solivus
Founder: Joanna May Parker-Swift
Solivus manufactures and installs light-weight solar panels for domestic and commercial use.
The company was founded by Joanna May Parker-Swift in 2016. Joanna is an entrepreneur who previously founded and sold two companies. Her background in science, with a focus on environmental pollution, and her work at AstraZeneca inspired her to launch Solivus to address pressing energy and sustainability challenges. The company focuses on innovative solar solutions, including lightweight, flexible solar panels for commercial buildings and homes.
Solivus has developed proprietary technologies such as the “Solivus Arc,” a portable solar structure for residential use, and has pioneered the use of thin-film solar technology on flat rooftops of large commercial structures. It has received a patent for its innovative technology.
The company has raised a total of £9.62m through ten funding rounds. It attended the Grow London Global accelerator in 2023, and it hit our environmental signal for clean and renewable energy.
08.
Qualis Flow
Founders: Brittany Harris, Jade Cohen
Qualis Flow has created Internet of Things software designed to enable construction project managers to keep track of the social and environmental impact of their projects.
Qualis Flow, often referred to as Qflow, was founded by Brittany Harris and Jade Cohen in 2018. The company originated as part of the Entrepreneur First accelerator program, which supports early-stage founders.
Qflow’s mission is to enhance sustainability in the construction industry by helping companies better manage materials and waste. The platform uses AI and machine learning to process data from receipts and documentation, providing real-time insights that help track and reduce carbon emissions on construction sites.
The company has featured on two high-growth lists: the BusinessCloud PropTech 50 and the BusinessCloud EnviroTech 50. It’s been through four funding rounds, raising a total of £9.98m, and hit our signal for environmental accolades.
07.
Net Purpose
Founder: Samantha Dee Duncan
Net Purpose has created a platform that aggregates and analyses data on the sustainability and impact of investments and companies. It was established with the mission of simplifying impact measurement for investors, aiming to mobilise the substantial capital required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Its founder, Sarah Dee Duncan, previously served as Head of Impact at LeapFrog Investments and was part of the Investment Banking Team at Goldman Sachs. Her experiences in the investment industry highlighted the need for reliable data on sustainable performance to support the achievement of global goals.
Since Net Purpose was founded it has been through three funding rounds, raising a total of £12.7m and hitting our signal for environmental accolades.
06.
Nourished
Founder: Melissa Snover Burton
Nourished has developed 3D printed, personalised multi-vitamins produced from stacked vegan gummy layers.
Melissa Snover Brown founded Nourished in 2019. She is an entrepreneur and registered nutritionist with a strong focus on health and wellness. The concept for Nourished originated in 2018 during her travels. Having been a regular user of vitamins for over a decade, Melissa often carried a large collection of pills, tablets, and supplements on her business trips.
During one such trip, an incident at airport security—where her supplements spilled—prompted her to consider a more convenient solution for managing daily vitamin intake. This experience led to the development of Nourished, a personalised approach to vitamin supplementation.
The company has raised £14.8m through four funding rounds and featured on ten high-growth lists. It has also hit our signal for environmental accolades.
05.
Twig World
Founder: Catherine Cahn
Twig World offers film-based learning material for schools on a subscription basis.
Catherine Cahn founded Twig World in 2008, in Glasgow. Catherine earned her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and began her career at Latham & Watkins in San Francisco before relocating to London, where she transitioned from finance law to investment banking. Later, she entered the media industry as Head of Business Affairs at Cinnamon Entertainment.
The company has been through six funding rounds, raising a total of £21.8m. It also hit our high-growth signal for 20% scaleup. It’s included on our list for hitting our environmental accolades signal.
Twig World was acquired by Weld North Education in 2021 and was rebranded as Twig Education.
04.
Nature Metrics
Founder: Kat Bruce
Nature Metrics develops eDNA (environmental DNA) testing kits, which aim to allow the biodiversity of an aquatic habitat to be determined from trace amounts of DNA found in environmental samples.
Dr Kat Bruce founded Nature Metrics in 2014. Kat is part of the DNA Working Group steering team and the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum. After earning her PhD, she set up Nature Metrics to connect cutting-edge molecular research tools with environmental managers who can use them to monitor and protect ecosystems.
Passionate about bridging research, industry, and policy, Kat’s work focuses on improving how we measure and understand the natural world, particularly through best practices for using DNA tools in aquatic environments.
Nature Metrics is a spinout of the University of East Anglia and since its incorporation has raised £31.0m in equity. It featured on Sifted 100: UK and Ireland in 2024. It hit our environmental signal for green infrastructure and building, and for environmental accolades. It also hit our social and governance signal for having an age diversity in directors.
03.
Uncommon
Founders: Benjamina Aure Bollag, Ruth Faram
Uncommon produces cell-based meat alternatives.
It was founded by Benjamina Aure Bollag and Ruth Faram in 2018. Benjamina grew up with a strong understanding of the importance of health, instilled by her parents who emphasised its central role in life. However, she later recognized that many people do not prioritise health, often due to financial constraints, lack of knowledge, or other barriers.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by the modern food system—such as antibiotic resistance, climate change, and food security—Benjamina discovered cultivated meat in 2017 and became deeply committed to its potential to improve public health. This led her to found Higher Steaks, later rebranded with co-founder Ruth’s involvement. Together, they refined their strategy and built the business into what it is today.
The company has raised a total of £38.4m over four funding rounds, and received a grant for £1.03m. It has appeared on two high-growth lists: The FoodTech 500 and HolonIQ Europe Climate Tech. Uncommon hit two of our environmental signals, one for sustainable farming and food production, and other for environmental accolades. It also hit one of our social and governance signals for having an age diversity in directors.
02.
OLIO
Founders: Tessa Clarke, Saasha Celestial-One
OLIO is an app that allows individuals and businesses to list food items (and other household items) for local people to purchase or pick up free-of-charge in order to reduce waste.
The app was founded by Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One in 2015. The idea came to Tessa when she was moving house and had a surplus of food leftover. She went door-to-door trying to share the food with neighbours, and thought ‘there must be a better way’. She shared the idea with Saasha, someone who also passionately believes in not being wasteful, and together they made OLIO.
Since then the company has been through five funding rounds, receiving £46.5m in total. The company has featured on six high-growth lists, most recently Sifted 100: UK and Ireland in 2024. It hit our signal for environmental accolades, as well as two signals for social and governance: social impact accolades and gender equality of directors.
01.
Ripple Energy
Founder: Sarah Louise Merrick
Ripple Energy aims to allow customers to invest in onshore renewable energy projects with the aim of reducing the cost of their electricity.
The company was founded by Sarah Merrick in 2017. Sarah has been involved in the wind energy industry since 2000, previously serving as Head of Public Affairs for Vestas and vice-chair of RenewableUK.
Recognising the need for individuals to access affordable clean energy, she founded Ripple to enable co-ownership of large-scale renewable energy projects like wind turbines and solar farms. Her goal was to empower people to lower their energy bills while contributing to a greener UK grid.
Sarah’s achievements include being named Business Green Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 and a finalist for the New Entrepreneur Award at the Lloyds British Business Awards 2022.
In total Ripple Energy has raised £48.3m over eight fundraising rounds, and featured on the BusinessCloud EnviroTech 50 high-growth list in 2024. It hit two of our environmental signals, one for clean and renewable energy and the other for environmental accolades.
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