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Women in Football's amazing partnership with global small business platform Xero is set to extend to a third year – providing comprehensive support for a whole new cohort of female entrepreneurs.

The Women in Football and Xero Small Business Programme offers a package of mentoring, networking and expert advice which has already proved transformational for many female-led enterprises. The renewal of the partnership means the programme will run for a third season, with aspiring businesswomen invited to apply now for places.

In its 2024-25 season, the programme supported 15 small businesses including a brand experience agency, mindset coaches, a sports bra manufacturer and various consultancies. You can read more about the participants and their respective businesses through our series of features: Chloe and Kati, Zoe and Julia, Michelle, Claire and Lucy, Ana, Hannah and Lois, Floss and Tracy, Geraldine and Alex, Jodie and Gemma.

Tracy Light, the founder of Inclusive United, one of the female entrepreneurs involved in last year’s programme, spoke with WIF earlier this year to explain how she got involved and how Inclusive United was created.

Check out our Member in Focus piece on Tracy. 

 

 

The first half of the Women in Football and Xero Small Business Programme develops participants' enterprise skills, knowledge and professional networks. Seven in-person and online workshop sessions cover useful topics such as business finance, starting or growing your business, branding, networking and looking ahead to being an effective and inclusive employer.

The second half provides one-to-one mentoring by matching up the entrepreneurs with Women in Football members who have already built successful businesses of their own. Find out more about the key aspect of mentoring and the value it brings.

 

Empower, mentor, succeed 

Mentors involved in year one featured a host of brilliant women including Helen Hardy, founder of Foudys; Kerry Downes, Chief Executive Officer at the Black Swimming Association; Martin Preston, founder of Kingfisher 7 Consulting; and Debbie Cook, Director of Community at the EFL. Other WIF members involved were already using Xero to help manage their business finances, including Laura Youngson, CEO of IDA Sports.

Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison said: "It's been a joy to watch this second cohort flourish with the support of Xero and Women in Football. Their progress has exceeded expectations and again we’ve seen them become an incredibly supportive community to each other; it’s inspiring to watch. I'm thrilled we can build on this, extending our partnership with Xero to impact even more women and I know there are plenty waiting in the wings!

"When like-minded organisations work together, great things can happen, and I look forward to increasing our collective impact."

 

 

Supercharge your business

WIF members who are interested in receiving support through Women in Football and Xero Small Business Programme can register their interest now – please fill out the application form  by midnight on Sunday 14 December 2025. If you aren’t currently a member, you can apply to join WIF for free. 

The programme will launch in January 2026. Session dates and locations are below.

• Tuesday 13 January 2026, 4–6pm: online session

• Thursday 22 January 2026, 9:30am–4pm: in-person session in London

• Thursday 19 February 2026, 10am–1pm: online session

• Thursday 19 March 2026, 10am–1pm: online session

• Thursday 16 April 2026, 10am–1pm: online session 

• Thursday 21 May 2026, 10am–1pm: online session

• Wednesday 3 June 2026, 1–4pm: in-person session (venue to be confirmed)

• Wednesday 3 June 2026, 4:30–7pm: in-person session (venue to be confirmed)

• Monthly online sessions between June and November 2026 (details to be confirmed once programme starts) 

• Thursday 26 November 2026, 10:30am–4pm: in-person session in Manchester

Please note that all in-person sessions will be held in the UK, and travel costs will need to be covered by applicants.

 

About Xero 

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software platform that connects small business owners with their accountant or bookkeeper, banks and an ecosystem of apps and financial services to help them run their business. Through a range of partnerships, Xero is also aiming to empower and champion women in business and football. 

Niamh Power, Head of Marketing UK at Xero, said: "We know that running a small business can be challenging, and our research highlights that financial confidence remains a key hurdle for many, especially female entrepreneurs, who are more likely to say they're 'not a numbers person'.

"That's why we are delighted to build on our partnership with Women in Football to deliver this programme for a third consecutive year to support even more talented women in business. The programme builds the business know-how and financial confidence they need to overcome barriers, unlock new opportunities, and take their business to the next level."

Sarah Collins, Women in Football's Client Services Manager, added: "Leading on this programme over the past two years together with the Xero team has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve loved watching female small business owners grow in confidence, build strong bonds with one another, and create a support network that lasts far beyond the sessions. Seeing their businesses thrive — especially with the added benefit of working with Xero, an organisation that shares our core values — is exactly why this work matters.” 

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