A truly healthy business isn’t just about profit, innovation, or reputation. It’s about how well you communicate, support, and empower your people – both internally and externally.
This International Women’s Day theme #AccelerateAction emphasises the urgency of advancing gender equality. At the current pace, full gender parity is projected to be achieved by 2158 – that’s approximately five generations from now!
So it’s time to ask: Is your business doing enough to support the women who help it thrive?
In the UK, women still face barriers that affect their ability to perform at their best. Challenges like:
- The gender pay gap – According to TUC’s latest analysis, women still earn 13.1% less than men on average (though in some industries this goes up to 29.8%) making equal pay policies and salary transparency critical.
- Workplace flexibility – Unpaid care responsibilities are still disproportionately undertaken by women, yet flexible working, affordable childcare, and shared parental leave remain inconsistent across industries.
- Leadership representation – Although the FTSE Women Leaders review (2025) reports that there has been a seismic shift in the gender balance of British boards from 9.5% FTSE 350 women board members in 2011, to 43% today. It also showed that the number of women in top positions in the FTSE 350 fell slightly, to 19 female chief executives compared with 20 in 2023 – on-going progress requires actively mentoring, sponsoring, and advocating for female leaders.
- Menopause and health support – Wellbeing of women state that there are around 13 million perimenopausal or menopausal women in the UK, equating to around one-third of the entire female population. Businesses must provide better policies, workplace adjustments, and open conversations to support health-related challenges. A great place to start is here https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/what-we-do/education/
- Gender bias and harassment – Everyday discrimination, from being talked over in meetings to workplace harassment, still exists. A healthy business ensures a zero-tolerance culture and clear reporting structures.
At We Can we believe that communication is at the heart of every healthy business and our ‘Take Notice’ element is critical. A truly healthy business stays ahead by anticipating change, understanding the challenges in its landscape, and driving progress – before it’s forced to react. Businesses that fail to address gender inequality risk not only falling behind competitors but also losing out on top talent, innovation, and long-term success.
How is your business accelerating action for gender equality? Let’s make meaningful change – faster.