Almost half (43 per cent) of board roles and more than a third (35 per cent) of leadership roles in FTSE350 companies in the UK are now held by women, according to the FTSE Women Leaders Review 2025.
Overall, almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of the FTSE 350 now meet the target of having a minimum of 40 per cent women on boards. But in contrast to this progress in FTSE350 companies, the report notes that only 17 of the 50 largest private companies in the UK (34 per cent) meet the 40 per cent target and 35 out of the 50 firms have no female board directors at all.
The FTSE Women Leaders Review was launched in 2021 as a successor to the Hampton-Alexander Review to drive progress in delivering gender balance across the top of British business. It sets voluntary targets for the FTSE 350, as well as for the UK’s 50 largest private companies.
The fact that the target of 40 per cent women’s representation in boardrooms by the end of 2025 is on track demonstrates significant progress in gender diversity at the highest levels of business, the report argues, and reflects the commitment of UK companies to promote inclusion and equal opportunities. This year's figure of 43 per cent women on boards is a significant increase on the 24.5 per cent figure in 2017.
The report also found that three-quarters (76 per cent) of the FTSE 350 and 60 per cent of the 50 largest private companies now have at least one woman in one of the four key senior roles (Chair, SID, CEO or Finance Director), in line with the recommendations. However there are still only 19 female CEOs across the FTSE 350, while just eight of the largest private companies have a female CEO.
According to the report, the focus now needs to be on growing the number of women in CEO positions and developing the CEO succession pipeline
“With its unique government-backed and business-led voluntary approach, the UK has spearheaded a world-leading transformation in the highest ranks of industry,” said Vivienne Artz, CEO of the FTSE Women Leaders Review.
"Whilst FTSE 350 company boards are now gender-balanced, sustained effort and determination is required to achieve the 40% target for women in leadership by the end of this year."