Two founding members of a task force to support women entrepreneurs in fast-growth business have resigned, as revealed by government minutes.
The latest meeting revealed that Alex Depledge, founder of architectural platform Resi, and Emma Sinclair, founder of corporate management software company Enterprise Alumni, stepped down from the task force.
The women-led high-growth enterprise task force was created in 2022 by Liz Truss during her time as minister for women and equalities.
The group is chaired by Starling Bank founder Anne Boden. Other members include Speedinvest partner Deepali Nangia and Zandra Moore, co-founder and CEO of analytics platform Painintelligence.
The Times reported that sources claimed the resignations came after the two felt frustrated by the minimal progress of the task force.
“The task force brings together a group of top-flight entrepreneurs and investors. These are incredibly busy people with packed schedules and not everyone has the time for a government taskforce over a two-year period,” said Boden.
“Emma Sinclair and Alex Depledge are both accomplished entrepreneurs and I really do understand when their own businesses need to come first.”
The task force is in the process of developing a report, to be published in March, said by a spokesperson from the government’s Equality Hub, to be a “blueprint for entrepreneurs and investors to follow”.
The March report will be the group’s first and last.
“We are grateful to all of the expert entrepreneurs, investors and business people who have contributed to this work and are committed to ensuring that the next generation of women setting up businesses have the opportunities they need to succeed,” the spokesperson added.