Female-led businesses: Deaf Umbrella 26 Years of Female Led Leadership
To end the month on a note of triumph, we are proud to spotlight one of our long-standing clients, Rachel Hubbard and her company: Deaf Umbrella. This female-led business is not only built on commercial strength, but on impact, resilience and long-term commitment to community.
Below, the Founder of Deaf Umbrella shares her story in her own words. We are excited to introduce you to: Rachel Hubbard.
Rachel Hubbard – Deaf Umbrella Founder
As the founder of Deaf Umbrella, I’ve had the privilege of leading a female-owned business for 26 years. My journey is one of purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.
I formed Deaf Umbrella in 2000, with a credit card and a desire to make a difference.
The company was started because I saw a clear gap in access. Deaf people were not consistently receiving high-quality, reliable communication support within education and the workplace. At the time, there was very little structure in place to ensure professionalism, accountability, and a true understanding of Deaf culture.
I believed we could build something better; a service rooted in integrity, community, and excellence. What began as a personal mission has grown into a sustainable, respected organisation built on strong values and strong relationships.
Twenty-six years later, we have a thriving business dedicated to:
- Educating the educator.
- Providing skilled and professional support staff.
- Supporting Deaf people to recognise their unique strengths.
- Championing Deaf people’s achievements.
- Assisting Deaf individuals to secure employment that can and will make a meaningful difference to their lives.
Challenges of Being a Female Led Business Founder
Starting out as a woman in business brought both motivation and challenge. Access to funding and being taken seriously in negotiations were real hurdles. There were moments where I felt I had to work twice as hard to prove credibility, particularly in conversations that were traditionally male-dominated. Female-led businesses often face disparities in investment opportunities, scaling support, and perception of authority.
I’d wait weeks for appointments knowing male counterparts had completed their meetings on the golf course before me. Then I was met with that subtle questioning of capability that many women entrepreneurs will recognise.
Throughout our growth, I’ve often needed to explain our model in greater depth, justify our ambition more robustly, and reinforce our commercial strength in ways that male counterparts are not always required to.
Disparity Does Not Define the Outcome
If anything, disparity strengthens resilience. It sharpens decision-making. It builds confidence rooted in evidence and experience; 26 years of longevity speaks for itself.
As we expanded, so did the complexity of our funding structure. Much of our work supports Deaf professionals in employment through Access to Work, a UK government fund that enables Deaf people to receive in-work support. While individuals have allocated budgets to manage, the end payer is the government.
This creates a unique structure:
- We manage multiple individual support arrangements.
- Invoices are linked to specific client packages.
- Payment flows through a government department.
- Administrative processes can occasionally cause delays.
It is secure funding, but it is structured funding. To those unfamiliar with the scheme, this can appear complex. In reality, it is simply the nature of delivering life-changing support within a government-backed framework.
Utilising Invoice Finance for Funding
Previously, we utilised a multi-million-pound factoring funding machine. On paper, it looked impressive. In practice, they did not fully understand the complexities of our relationships with our paying clients. We were treated as a standard account within a large system that lacked flexibility or appreciation of our sector’s nuance.
We needed a partnership. That is what led us to Partnership Invoice Finance.
Invoice Finance with Partnership Invoice Finance
Working alongside Partnership Invoice Finance over the past five years has been both straightforward and genuinely beneficial.
What makes the partnership work is shared values: professionalism, quality assurance, and a commitment to improving standards within the sector. They took the time to understand how Access to Work operates. This meant that they recognised while we manage individual budgets, the ultimate payer is the government. They understood that delays are procedural, not a reflection of risk. Their understanding changed everything.
I also have the thank and recognise the wonderful female-led team in the back office, that reinforces the importance of collaboration and communication. The relationship feels aligned, built on mutual respect rather than rigid process. Collaboration with Partnership Invoice Finance has allowed us to strengthen processes, share best practice, and ensure consistent service delivery.
It removes unnecessary friction and enables us to focus on what truly matters: delivering excellent support to Deaf clients. For female-led businesses especially, having financial partners who genuinely listen and value relational leadership can be transformational.
Celebrating Progress on International Women’s Day
Women often lead with collaboration, empathy, and long-term relationship building; qualities that are essential in the Deaf community and in service-driven industries. Some of my proudest moments have been building a trusted reputation over decades, creating varied employment opportunities, and seeing the tangible impact of our work on people’s lives.
For me, success has never just been about running a business. It’s about creating impact and sustainability. Whilst raising standards in the sector. It’s about ensuring Deaf people are empowered, recognised, and supported to thrive. As a female entrepreneur, I’m proud not only of the company we’ve built, but of the resilience it represents.
International Women’s Day is about recognising disparity; but it is also about celebrating progress.
From a credit card in 2000 to a thriving organisation 26 years later. Deaf Umbrella stands as proof that female-led businesses are not only capable of scaling, they are capable of leading meaningful, lasting change. And with strong partnerships like Partnership Invoice Finance, that continued growth is not just possible; it’s sustainable.
A Partnership Built on Understanding
Deaf Umbrella operates within a unique government-backed framework. It requires nuance, patience and sector awareness. Their model is strong. They have a secure payer. Their impact is measurable. What was required was alignment.
Ethical funding means taking time to understand complexity. It means recognising that procedural delays are not risk indicators. It means building relationships based on mutual respect and clear communication.
We are proud to support Deaf Umbrella and the meaningful work they deliver every day.
Chris Falby
With over two decades dedicated to helping businesses in the South East thrive, Chris, Sales and Marketing Director, brings a wealth of knowledge in securing financial assistance for SMEs. His career began in mainstream banking, where he gained valuable experience managing advances. This foundation, coupled with his extensive network and expertise in independent funding, allows Chris to provide tailored invoice finance solutions that meet the unique needs of each client.