Gender Equality - Business in the Community
Explore the role of gender inclusion in fostering better employee and business outcomes, and discover resources and bespoke guidance on how organisations can take a strategic approach to support gender equity in their workplace.

Gender Equality

Gender Equality

Explore the role of gender inclusion in fostering better employee and business outcomes, and discover resources and bespoke guidance on how organisations can take a strategic approach to support gender equality in their workplace.

Our gender equality resources
The Gender Equality Leadership Team

Creating a more gender-equal future

We believe that UK businesses have the power and responsibility to progress gender equality and stand firm in the ethic and economic importance of a workplace where all genders can thrive.

Business in the Community’s (BITC) gender campaign exists to accelerate this progress towards a gender-equal future and encourage UK business to unlock the value of gender equality for all: 

  • Just a 10% increase in gender equality increases life expectancy by an average of 3 years of life for all genders
  • A 5% increase of the number of women in employment would add £125bn to UK GDP per annum
  • At the management level, a notable study found a 26% difference in return on invested capital between companies with higher female board representation compared to those with none
  • Organisations that prioritise inclusion are 8x more likely to have better business outcomes
GENDER EQUITY AT WORK

Our Campaign Objectives

1

Empower UK businesses to take bold action on gender equality

BITC has been campaigning on gender equality for over three decades, remaining steadfast in our belief that businesses have the power to be a force for good. As structural and cultural barriers to workplace gender equality persist, with the rapidly evolving landscape presenting unforeseen further challenges for gender equality in UK business, our campaign exists to future-proof gender equality, ensuring inclusion stands firmly on the agenda.  

2

Unlock the economic power of a gender-equal workforce

Driving meaningful and measurable progress on gender equality is not only crucial for a thriving society, but an economic imperative for the prosperity of UK business. Gender-equal workforces benefit everyone, leading to better socioeconomic outcomes for all genders, with just a 5% increase in total number of women in employment could boost (GDP) by £125bn.  

3

Accelerate progress and celebrate leaders in gender inclusion

Sharing cutting-edge insight and leading practice from across business size and sector to help equip organisations in realising their gender equality ambitions. Convening, celebrating and accelerating the practice of UK businesses committed to gender inclusion through our annual flagship award, The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality. Disparities between genders in the workplace have seen incremental progress over time, a pace that has led to an estimated 40 years to close the gender pay gap in the UK and an estimated 5 generations away from obtaining gender parity globally.  Further strategic action must be taken to move the dial on the known barriers to equality, delivering the impact required to ensure gender is never an inhibitor to a person’s ability to thrive.  

Barriers to a gender equal workplace

Meaningful progress towards a more gender-equal world will only be achieved through addressing the systemic, root causes of inequality, while remaining agile to changes in the external environment that pose a risk to a truly inclusive future.

Issues we are facing today:

  • For every £1 earned by a man, a woman earns 90p, a gap that only increases across various intersectional women. 
  • Double the number of women work in severely insecure jobs compared to men. 
  • Access to paid work is impacted by inadequate health support, with around a million women may already at risk of quitting work due to a lack of menopause support

Arising issues in unequal pay:

  • It will take an estimated 40 years to close the gender pay gap in the UK at the current rate of progress
  • Organisational AI adoption is rapidly growing and so is the risk to a wider gender pay gap, with an 80% displacement risk of women’s roles.

Issues we are facing today:

  • Women continuously face the brunt of unpaid caring for children and dependable adults, with 6 in 10 women stating this has prevented their ability to apply for a job or promotion.
  • Women aged 45 to 60 are x7 more likely than men in the same age group to have left or be considering leaving the workforce before pension age to care for children or grandchildren

Arising issues in unequal care:

  • 28% of Gen Z men agreed “A man who stays home to look after his children is less of a man”
  • Career breaks due to care may damage progression to a greater extent – 2/5 of the workforce can expect their skills to become outdated between 2025-2030…

Issues we are facing today:

  • Women only make up 33.5% of senior management in the UK.
  • As of 2025, women are still not unequally represented in UK parliament, at 40% representation in the House of Commons.

Arising issues in unequal power:

  • 59% of Britons agree women won’t achieve equality with men in the UK unless there are more female leaders in business and government, yet 3 in 10 Britons believe policies in businesses to promote gender equality have made no real difference.

Issues we are facing today:

  • 58% of all women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work. 43% of all women have experienced at least three incidents of sexual harassment at work.
  • Women are more likely to face flexible work stigma, with research showing men more likely to discriminate against flexible workers and women, especially mothers more likely to suffer from that discrimination.

Arising issues in unequal treatment:

  • AI discrimination rising, out of the 133 AI systems analysed across different industries, 44% showed gender bias and 25% exhibited both gender and racial biases.
  • 40% of Gen Z said they would discuss sexism in the workplace, compared with 24% of older generations.

With every problem, there is a practice that can accelerate gender equality. Our Gender Campaign is committed to creating a future where gender is never a barrier to equality in the workplace and beyond.

While the external environment consistently evolves, our 8-step route map to gender equality and campaign resources offer a timeless guide to removing barriers to gender-inclusion. Our subject-matter expert inclusion advisors can also support your organisation in industry-leading support in prioritising gender equality in your business strategy and unlocking the business benefits of gender-equal workforces. Connect with our inclusion advisors here.

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality is the UK’s most highly profiled and well-established listing of employers taking action to create workplaces where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive.

It is our annual flagship award, led by Business in the Community (BITC) since 2011, which celebrates the achievements and the impactful efforts of organisations that have been at the forefront of championing gender equality in the workplace.

Learn more
GENDER EQUITY AT WORK

Gender equality blog spotlight

Gender equality resources and next steps

Explore all of our Gender equality and inclusion research and resources

From recruitment and equal parent leave to mental health resources for ethnically diverse female employees, our Gender at Work resources can equip your organisation to accelerate change. View our latest resources and discover our gender inclusion road map, practical guidance, and inspiring case studies in our Gender at Work resource hub.

Connect with our gender team and BITC advisory services

Our subject-matter expert inclusion advisors can support your organisation in industry-leading support in prioritising gender equality in your business strategy and unlocking the business benefits of gender-equal workforces. Get in touch with the gender team through the form below or explore our inclusion advisory services for bespoke guidance.

The 2025 Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality is our annual flagship award which celebrates the achievements and the impactful efforts of organisations that have been at the forefront of championing gender equality in the workplace. Submit your organisation for consideration and learn from those leading change.

Get in touch with the gender team

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Business in the Community on gender and gender identity inclusion in our Gender Equality Campaign

Our Gender Equality Campaign is grounded in a commitment to gender equality and inclusivity. We recognise that gender is not binary, and we affirm the diverse identities and expressions that exist across the gender spectrum.   

Gender equality means ensuring individuals of all gender identities have equal rights, opportunities, and recognition. For the purposes of our campaign, the term “women” is inclusive of all who identify as such, regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender expression, aligned with our values of equity, respect, and representation for all.  

Gender at work frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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How does Artificial Intelligence impact Gender Equality? 

Despite its potential, generative AI and greater automation can create inequality if not thoughtfully implemented, with the groups who face the largest societal disadvantage will be the ones disproportionately impacted. Our factsheet on the gendered impacts of AI explores potential negative implications for women in job disruption, underrepresentation in development and bias.  

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What is The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list?

The Times Top 50 for Gender Equality is the UK’s most highly profiled and well-established listing of employers taking action to create workplaces where everyone, regardless of Gender can thrive. The annual flagship award provides a comprehensive assessment of employer efforts to progress on gender equity and celebrates the achievements of organisations enacting meaningful change.

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How do I find out what the gender pay gap is for my organisation?

At Business in the Community (BITC) we encourage all employers to talk openly about the gender pay gap, the average gap between men and women’s earnings in the UK. Access our gender pay gap reporting dashboard and toolkits to understand how to understand one of the most stubborn gender inequalities in more detail.

References

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