Data: Women near half of retail boards but ethnic diversity drops, says BRC
Women now represent 47% of boardroom positions in UK retail, up from 32% five years ago, according to a new report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the MBS Group.
Women now represent 47% of boardroom positions in UK retail, up from 32% five years ago, according to a new report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the MBS Group.
Representation of leaders from minority ethnic backgrounds fell to 8% this year, down from 12% in 2024.
Meanwhile, progress remains slow for people with disabilities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with the “employee inclusion index” showing low feelings of belonging for these groups as well as for individuals who prefer not to disclose their gender.
The report also found a drop in the percentage of retailers with coordinated diversity and inclusion strategies—from 98% in 2024 to 90% in 2025.
-
Related Story
-
BRC CEO 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.”
The MBS Group managing partner Elliott Goldstein added: “For the fifth year, MBS is proud to have partnered with the BRC to continue to move the dial on diversity and inclusion in the retail industry.
“To ensure lasting change, retailers must continue to put their heads above the parapet to drive forward initiatives and commit to building work environments that are truly inclusive – particularly with the backdrop of today’s geopolitical environment.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
