International Women’s Day: Championing Women In The UK
This International Women’s Day, Wiseup is here to champion gender equality. A theme close to our hearts, we have seen firsthand how an individual's gender can influence key areas such as confidence, aspiration and belief in what is possible.
Many of the schools we work with have a high percentage of students on free school meals or bursaries. When this is coupled with differences in gender aspirations and confidence levels, we see a whole segment of young people feeling disempowered before they have even entered the workplace. Wiseup is here to change this.
For International Women’s Day 2026, we’re looking at what the latest evidence tells us about how women fare in upward social mobility compared to men across Britain — and, importantly, what we are doing to actively change this.
What is social mobility?
Social mobility is the process of an individual moving ‘up’ the social ladder, seeing improvements in their prospects, economic condition and overall position in society. It is closely linked to cultural capital, a premise that sits at the very heart of Wiseup’s mission.
We are continuously aiming to improve the social mobility and cultural capital of all those we support — specifically students aged 16–21. With 50% of these individuals being female, we feel an even greater responsibility to champion this demographic and ensure opportunity is truly equal.
Social mobility matters to us because we have a genuine desire to change the landscape of the UK. Specifically, the notable differences between males and females when it comes to job prospects, progression and pay.
The statistics
UK data continues to show a clear divide between genders when it comes to opportunity and earnings.
PwC’s Women in Work Index found that the UK’s gender pay gap stands at roughly 13.1% — meaning women earn around 87p for every £1 earned by men. This disparity directly affects economic mobility, limiting women’s ability to build savings, accumulate wealth and create long-term financial security across their lifetimes.
Another clear disparity lies with NEET individuals. Young women with low academic outcomes are substantially more likely to be NEET than their male peers with similar attainment. This difference highlights the gendered early-career disadvantage faced by many young women and girls across the country.
These statistics demonstrate that education alone is not enough; females must be actively engaged, exposed and supported from education through to the workplace if we are to see meaningful change.
Why these gaps persist
While progress has been made, structural and cultural barriers continue to limit women’s upward mobility.
Women are more likely to take on unpaid caring responsibilities, which can interrupt early career progression and reduce opportunities for full-time employment. Over time, this has a lasting impact on earnings, pension contributions and access to senior leadership roles.
Confidence gaps, particularly among girls from lower socio-economic backgrounds, can further compound these challenges. When aspiration, exposure to industry and professional environments are limited, perceptions of what is achievable become limited too.
How our programmes support this
Wiseup is very proud to be supporting girls and women in the UK through our Pathfinder Programmes.
We recognise that exposure changes outcomes. Through direct engagement with employers, immersive workplace experiences and meaningful mentorship, we help young women build the confidence, networks and cultural capital that are essential for upward mobility.
Our programmes are designed to bridge the gap between education and employment — ensuring that academic achievement translates into tangible opportunity.
This International Women’s Day and beyond, we reaffirm our commitment to championing young women as they step into their early careers — equipping them not only with skills, but with the confidence and access they need to succeed.
