Fast Facts
Beyond Women exists to change the financial landscape for women.
Industry statistics published in Scottish Widows Women & Retirement Report 2025* highlight why change is needed and why access to advice, education, opportunity, and representation matter more than ever.
Women are savvy with their finances…
Overall, more women than men prioritise saving for emergencies or a rainy day, with 44% of women compared to 39% of men, 71% (vs 59% of men) setting a clear target of at least £1000 for their rainy-day fund.*
Yet, women have less time in careers than men…
Around half of all women have taken a career break, compared with only one in five men. 36% of women take a career break to care for children, in addition to maternity leave, whereas this proportion is 3% for men. Mothers lose around £65,600 in earnings by their first child’s fifth birthday, with the biggest drop in income seen during the first year after birth. Women are 12 times more likely to take a career break for childcare. A quarter of women over 55 have spent 5+ years on a career break during their working life.*
This has led to financial stress during their career window…
55% of women found the loss of earnings during a career break a financial struggle, vs 47% for men. Fewer women report having £10,000 or more saved compared to men (24% of men compared to 16% of women) and 37% of men have a stocks and shares ISA compared to 26% of women.*
And ultimately women have not risen through company hierarchy’s…
The International Labour Organisation reports that only 6% of CEOs globally are women, just 3 in 10 managerial positions globally are held by women, and women hold around 27% of the worlds board seats.
In financial services the numbers don’t look great either…
The 10 Year Review of the Women in Finance Charter, 2026 found that women currently make up about 47% of the total UK financial services workforce, but they still hold fewer than 1 in 5 senior executive roles.
This struggle carries through into retirement…
Women are on track to retire with an average retirement income of £13,000, compared to £19,000 for men. Furthermore, in 2025 the gender pension gap increased from 30% to 32%. Women are currently more likely to fall short of the minimum retirement lifestyle requirements (36% vs 31% of men) and are less likely to reach comfortable a standard (24% vs 36% of men). The gender pension gap at retirement is around £113k (men £286k vs women £173k). Fewer women are expected to achieve a moderate or comfortable retirement (32% vs 45%).*
But are things changing?...
Figures from the 10 year review of the Women in Finance Charter in 2026 show a rise from 29% to 37% of the average level of female representation at senior management level for large signatories , an increase in number of female senior managers risen from 14,800 to 39,200 and a 40% average female representation for insurers, the first large signatory sector to achieve this level.
Grant Thornton also report that only 1.7% of businesses now have no women in senior management roles. They also reported that in 2004 the global percentage of women in senior management was just around 18%, now it has increased too around 35%.
But there’s still a long way to go…
According to a Financial Conduct Authority report in 2024 According to FCA, it will take 88 years for the banking sector to see true gender equality.
We intend to operate an empowering community for change in financial services and Beyond!
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