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FTSE Women Leaders Review 2025: Progress made, but the work is far from over
FTSE Women Leaders Review 2025: Progress made, but the work is far from over
24 February 2026
Series
Blogs
24 February 2026
On 24 February 2026, the FTSE Women Leaders Review published its 2025 report - the final report in a five-year cycle that has fundamentally shaped the conversation around gender diversity at the highest levels of UK business.
The latest report showcases both modest and transformational progress. Whilst female board representation across the FTSE 350 is strong, female executive balance has a long way to go.
As a general theme, the report finds that commitment to gender equality at the most senior levels of UK business remains strong, with transformational progress in some sectors and companies. However, there are still areas needing improvement.
“The commitment and progress in both listed and private companies continues to be strong. Having met the 40% recommendation for women on boards in 2022, the FTSE 350 maintains its position at 43%, and the 50 private companies, in just four years of data reporting, is at 30%.” - FTSE Women Leaders Review – 2025 Report (published February 2026)
1. Women on boards
2. Women in leadership roles
3. Women in one of the four key roles
The review is proud of the progress made across top UK businesses, as the report shows that the FTSE 350 is meeting and exceeding the review’s recommendation of having 40% female representation at board level. However, it is also clear that there is still work to be done, with women continuing to occupy only a small proportion of key functional roles, including the CEO role – only 8% of CEOs in the FTSE 350 are women.
“The focus for the FTSE350 is now on the executive director roles at just 15.4% women, showing slow progress, compared to the parity achieved more quickly for non-executive director roles at 49.5% women.”
- FTSE Women Leaders Review – 2025 Report (published February 2026)
As the review draws this chapter to a close, it does so against a backdrop of genuine and measurable progress: FTSE 350 companies have achieved over 40% women's representation on boards, surpassing the headline target that was set to drive meaningful change across corporate Britain. This is no small achievement. When the review was established, the prospect of 40% female representation across the breadth of the FTSE 350 required sustained commitment from boards, executives and nomination committees alike.
Yet, for all the cause for celebration, the review is unequivocal on one central point: the work is far from complete, and the conclusion of a five-year reporting cycle does not signal the end of the journey. As this phase of the review concludes, we will wait to see what the next chapter will bring.
You can access the latest report from the FTSE Women Leaders Review here.