Tomorrow isn’t just another date in the diary. It’s International Women’s Day, a moment to look at how far we’ve come, celebrate the achievements of women everywhere, and drive the next steps towards a more equal future. 

This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, strikes a real chord with us at Propel. 

It’s not about the slogans. It’s about backing up words with action by actively recruiting, retaining, and developing diverse talent. It’s also about supporting women stepping into leadership roles, breaking barriers in STEM and business, and ensuring women have a seat (and a voice) at the table to make decisions at the highest level.

This kind of call to action really couldn’t be more timely. Right now, women make up just 24% of the UK’s tech industry despite representing over half of the overall workforce. Leadership representation isn’t great, either. In fact, it’s slipping, with women holding just 28% of tech leadership roles today – down from 35% in 1984! 

For us, these aren’t just numbers. They’re a reminder of why the work we do matters so much. As a female-founded, female-led tech recruitment business, we know firsthand how important it is to build pathways and open doors for women in tech. That’s why we champion those driving change and make sure the voices that deserve to be heard are amplified, not overlooked. 

Why This Matters

Despite the strides made over the last two decades, the truth is, gender disparity in tech is still an issue. Women are consistently underrepresented, especially in technical and leadership roles. What’s more, the gender pay gap is not going anywhere fast, with men in STEM roles earning nearly 40% more than women.  

Addressing these challenges isn’t just about fairness (although that should be reason enough). It’s about building a stronger, smarter and more innovative tech industry. See, the more diverse perspectives at the table, the better the ideas, and that just means better business. In fact, studies show that companies with greater gender equity have a 48% higher chance of outperforming companies with a gender imbalance. 

At Propel, this has been part of our story since day one. We’ve always championed businesses that prioritise diversity from the inside out, and we actively partner with companies committed to building balanced teams, embracing inclusive hiring practices and investing in leadership development for women. 

Still, we know there’s more we can do. 

So, at the end of 2024, we made a deliberate commitment to step things up and use our 25 years of connections, influence and trusted relationships to do more than just be part of the conversation; we want to elevate it in a way that’s meaningful, impactful, and impossible to ignore.

Our ultimate goal is to bring fresh insights, broaden perspectives and challenge the tech world to think bigger about what diversity truly means – and why it’s non-negotiable for future success. 

That’s why, since the start of this year, we’ve been heads down, sleeves rolled up, working on something big. Something that doesn’t just talk about change but actually helps drive it. 

What We’re Working on Behind the Scenes

In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re thrilled to share a little of what we’re currently working on: The Rise of Women in Tech – our upcoming white paper. 

This isn’t just another campaign or a one-off initiative for us. It’s a long-term commitment to deepen our own understanding while helping the wider industry do the same by magnifying the voices, stories, and expertise of the women shaping tech. 

From our own in-depth data (you know we love a stat!) to candid conversations with women at the top and real-world examples of businesses leading the way, we’re tapping into our incredible network of founders, leaders, innovators and up-and-comers to:

• Explore the motivations that drive women in tech
• Look at the changing dynamic of the industry over the last 20 years
• Dig into the factors contributing to gender disparity 
• Dive into the gender pay gap and showcase businesses actively closing it 
• Shine a light on initiatives shaping and nurturing women in tech
• Look at the impact of AI on women in the workplace 
• Share exclusive Q&As with industry leaders 
• Present fresh data from hundreds of women currently working in tech roles 
• Offer practical and actionable insights to attract and support more women in tech

Would You Like to Get Involved?

Our hope for this white paper is simple: to educate, inspire and, most of all, drive change. 

If this feels like it’s up your street – whether you’ve got insights you’d like to share, would like to collaborate, or just fancy staying in the loop by following our findings – we’d love to hear from you. Comment below or reach out to Emily, our Content & Marketing Manager, to get involved. 

Stay tuned for more details on The Rise of Women in Tech soon. 

And, of course, Happy International Women’s Day!