PERSONAL safety takes centre stage as a Solihull self defence business features in the first episode of the new series of Dragons’ Den.
Founded by West Midlands based entrepreneur Gulshen Bano, Strike Back Self Defence is a women-led organisation focused on teaching women and girls practical self defence skills designed to increase awareness, confidence, and personal safety.
During the episode, airing on BBC One on January 29, she presents the mission behind Strike Back and outlines the organisation’s vision for expanding access to self defence education globally.
Gulshen said: “Strike Back exists because violence against women is not inevitable, and fear should never be the price anyone pays for simply living their lives.
“Self defence is not about fighting, it’s about awareness, boundaries, safety, and knowing how to respond when something doesn’t feel right. Everything we do is rooted in prevention, education, and giving women and girls the belief that their safety matters.
“Bringing this conversation into the Den was about challenging the status quo and pushing women’s safety into the mainstream.”
Strike Back’s training focuses on real-world situations faced every day, from street harassment and travelling alone at night to young people making their way to and from school. Programmes are designed to teach both physical and verbal skills, centred on how to stay safe and how to respond if personal safety is threatened.
The appearance comes at a time of growing concern around safety in both the UK and internationally.
In England and Wales, violence against women and girls represents a significant proportion of recorded crime, with women disproportionately affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and harassment. Globally, almost one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Gulshen added” “I hope people will tune in and watch to see how the conversation unfolds, understand the story behind Strike Back, the motivations that led to its creation, and the wider societal challenge it seeks to confront.”
