This month marks International Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the progress women have made in the fight for gender equality, while recognising how much further there is to go.
At Lets Recruit, we are particularly passionate about supporting women into employment, especially within traditionally male-dominated sectors. Earlier this month, we were proud to support Smart Works at their International Women’s Day event, where inspiring speakers shared their journeys and insights into building successful careers.
To understand how far we have come, it is important to look back at key legal milestones that have shaped opportunities for women in the workplace over the past 60 years.
Timeline of legal milestones
- Education Act 1944
Introduced wider access to secondary education for girls, helping to build a stronger pipeline into professional careers. - Equal Pay Act 1970
Made it unlawful to pay women less than men for the same work, laying the foundation for fairer participation in the workforce. - Employment Protection Act 1975
Established maternity rights, offering greater job security for women during pregnancy. - Gender pay gap reporting (2017)
Required large organisations to publish pay data, increasing transparency and accountability.
Alongside workplace legislation, broader societal changes were essential in enabling women to build independent careers:
- 1960s–1970s
Women gained the right to open bank accounts, access credit and take out loans without requiring a husband’s permission. - Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Made it illegal to discriminate based on sex or marital status, including in financial services and employment.
Together, these changes have driven significant progress, not only in helping women enter the workforce but in opening doors across all sectors.
However, challenges remain. One of the most persistent is the “drop-off” at the leadership level. While entry-level roles are now close to a 50/50 split between men and women, representation declines at each step up the career ladder. Women hold around 35% of leadership roles on average, and CEO positions remain in the single digits. The most significant drop occurs at the first transition into management.
At the current pace, true gender parity in leadership is still decades away.
At Lets Recruit, we are committed to being part of the solution. Through our continued partnership with Smart Works, including CV support and interview coaching, we aim to empower more women to enter and progress within the workplace across the North East and beyond.
Progress has been made, but the work is far from over.
Contact us to start your recruitment journey with us today!
Tel: 0333 577 7157
Email: hello@letsrecruit.co.uk
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