By WCorp Editorial Team

#DiversityDrivesSuccess | #EquityInLeadership

The Diversity Divide

Women’s representation in leadership roles has been inching forward, but progress remains uneven, and the data tells a deeper story about workplace culture and inclusion.

As of early 2025, women hold just 19 of the FTSE 350 chief executive roles (7%) (FTSE Women Leaders Review 2025). That’s far from parity. Among the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women, however, the foundations of inclusion are markedly stronger - for example, at the Top 5 listmakers, 91% of women and 89% of men say people are encouraged to balance work and personal life (Great Place to Work UK, 2025). That kind of culture is what sustains better pipelines into leadership.

But leadership numbers alone don’t paint the full picture.

The Culture Gap: Recognition and Balance

At the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women, a striking share of employees say people are encouraged to balance work and personal life, while the UK average sits at ~60% (Great Place to Work UK, Women at Work 2024 report, p.5). Work-life balance is a core driver of employee satisfaction and retention, and many workplaces still need to do better!

When it comes to recognition:

• Only 49% of women feel they have opportunities for special recognition, compared to 60% of men (Great Place to Work UK, Women at Work 2024 report, p.10)
• Just 58% of women believe management shows appreciation for extra effort, versus 64% of men (same source, p.10)

These gaps signal that women often feel undervalued, a barrier to engagement and progression.

The Persistent Pay Gap

The UK’s gender pay gap has narrowed, with women now earning about 92p for every £1 earned by men among full-time employees (ONS, 2023). That’s progress, yet true equality, especially for women from ethnic minorities, still hasn’t been reached!

• Black women in the UK earn around 74p to a man’s £1

• Pakistani women face one of the widest gaps — about a 31p difference

  (Both via analysis of ONS data reported by The Guardian)

True equity demands addressing these intersectional disparities head-on.

Why This Matters: The Business Case

Diversity is essential because it drives business success.

Companies with gender-diverse leadership and inclusive cultures enjoy better decision-making, innovation, and employee retention. The UK’s Best Workplaces prove it: when equity is embedded, business performance follows.

What Companies Can Do Now:

• Prioritize increasing women in leadership roles
• Foster cultures that truly support work-life balance
• Close recognition gaps with transparent and equitable reward systems
• Commit to closing pay gaps, especially for minority women
• Measure, report, and hold themselves accountable for progress

Equity Is Everyone’s Business

At WCorp, we believe creating workplaces where everyone can thrive is key to future success. Investing in diversity combines good ethics with smart business, as the data clearly shows.

Want to build a better workplace? Let’s get started.