Women now make up nearly half of retail boardrooms, according to new BRC data

Five years ago, women made up 32% of boardrooms. The number has now reached 47%.

The report also shows that while steps have been made to improve equality, leaders from a minority ethnic backgrounds fell and there has been slow progress on representation from people with a disability or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Last year, 12% of retail boardrooms had people from a minority group, this year it fell to 8%.

It also found that in the “employee inclusion index” feelings of belonging and inclusion was low for those with a disability, those from Black, African and Caribbean backgrounds, and those who selected “prefer not to say” under gender.

The percentage of retailers with a coordinated diversity and inclusion strategy in place fell from 98% in 2024 to 90% today.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retailers should celebrate the enormous efforts made to ensure more women have a seat at the executive table. More than half of retail customer bases are women, so having their perspective is essential to success.

“But, if this year’s results have shown us anything, it is that we cannot rest on our laurels as progress can quickly fade. There is little point in having more diverse leadership if this does not translate into the lived experience of people within a business.

“All employees must feel a sense of belonging to be productive and power a business to a successful future. The work on achieving true diversity and inclusion must not stop until we get where the industry needs to be.”