A new national report from Women in Transport warns that the UK's transport industry is not only failing to make progress on gender equity, but is actively losing ground. The 2025 Women in Transport Equity Index, developed in partnership with WORK180, reveals that key indicators of inclusion, pay equality and leadership progression have stagnated or worsened since the inaugural Index in 2023.
"The Equity Index is an important step forward in our mission to create a more inclusive and representative transport sector. By measuring where we are and holding ourselves to account, we give ourselves the tools to drive real change. I'm proud to support this report and the role it plays in shaping a more equitable future for the industry," says Elsie Blundell, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport.
"This isn't just slow progress. It's policy in reverse," says Sue Terpilowski, co-founder of the Equity Index. "When fewer companies have pay-gap plans and mental health support, shrinks, that's not stagnation, it's systemic neglect. Equity isn't a side project. It's the foundation of a sustainable workforce."
Key takeaways:
· The UK transport and logistics sector contributed at least £268.5 billion GVA in 2024, a core driver of national output supporting upwards of 2.8 million jobs and enabling nearly £1 trillion in trade.
· The sector's overall DEI score has fallen from 50% to 47%, putting it at a "foundational" level.
· 59% of organizations report a gender pay gap of 11% or more and have no real improvement since 2023.
· 65% now have no plan to close the pay gap, up from 44% in 2023.
· Provision of mental health days has declined, from 22% to just 16%.
· Paid parental leave remains unchanged, with most organizations still offering five weeks or less of leave.
· Only 36% of women in leadership roles are in core transport functions.
· While the majority of the industry continues to underperform, the 2025 Index highlights a group of standout organizations delivering measurable progress on gender equity. These eight sector winners have implemented targeted policies, improved internal structures, and committed to long-term cultural change, offering a blueprint for the rest of the sector.
"We can't keep celebrating good intentions while real-world conditions worsen. These results must be a rallying cry, not just for transport leaders but for ministers, regulators and suppliers," adds Sonya Byers OBE, CEO of Women in Transport.
"The data is clear: too many women in transport are stuck in support roles, underpaid, and excluded from leadership pathways. Unless accountability is embedded into governance, the sector will continue leaking talent it cannot afford to lose," says Gemma Lloyd, CEO of WORK180.
