As we celebrate International Women in STEM Day today, it’s time to face up to a stark reality – even in 2025, women are still drastically underrepresented across STEM professions. Despite years of effort, the numbers remain dismal. Women make up only 30% of the STEM workforce in the UK, with even fewer in high-growth sectors like computer science (23%) and engineering (21%). These figures underscore the systemic issues – such as unconscious bias, limited access to networks, lack of role models and societal pressures – that continue to hinder women’s participation and advancement in STEM careers.
The challenges don’t stop at representation. Women in STEM are often subjected to higher levels of harassment and underrepresentation in leadership roles, which further compounds the challenges they face. Economic barriers, restricted access to education, and regressive gender norms create additional hurdles. Despite the attention the issue has received in recent years, the figures speak for themselves. To close the gender gap, we need more than just encouragement and funding – this isn’t an issue we can simply throw money at to solve. We need bold, systemic change that supports women throughout their education, careers and entrepreneurial journeys.
This issue goes beyond fairness and justice. Underrepresentation of women in entrepreneurial circles is costing the UK dearly in lost economic potential. The Alison Rose Review shows that if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, the UK economy could grow by £250 billion – an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore.
Early engagement and systemic change
The gender gap in STEM isn’t confined to the workplace. Women are underrepresented at every stage – from education to entrepreneurship. The journey to closing this gap begins in education, where many girls develop the perception that STEM subjects aren’t for them. Research shows that 36% of girls say science is not for them, with 57% citing a lack of enjoyment and 38% feeling they aren’t good at the subjects, while only 20% of boys feel the same. Initiatives like the UK’s STEM Ambassador programme and Million Women Mentors are crucial in challenging these perceptions early, encouraging girls to engage with STEM subjects and providing role models to boost their confidence.
But early engagement is just the beginning. Once women enter the workforce, they continue to face barriers, such as unconscious bias, limited access to networks, and the lack of role models, which limit their ability to advance in STEM careers and entrepreneurship. This is evident in the stark underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, as well as the persisting funding disparities which highlight that female-founded businesses receive only 2% of global venture capital funding. In the UK, women-owned businesses represent just 18% of SMEs, and limited access to capital and networks restricts their growth potential.
Supporting female founders
Addressing these funding and support gaps requires more than just raising awareness – it demands tangible action. Initiatives like Bruntwood SciTech’s Female Founders Incubator are already making a difference. Across Leeds and Manchester, founders have secured over £200,000 in investment, won 15 industry awards and created new jobs. With the incubator’s support, several female-led startups have also secured over £1 million to scale their businesses. By providing mentorship, networking and over £20,000 in growth support, these programmes are proving the power of targeted interventions to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs.
However, the broader challenge remains. The real test is ensuring long-term, scalable support for women in STEM and entrepreneurship. The UK Government’s £2.6 billion commitment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund offers an opportunity to continue fostering these initiatives, alongside further rounds of the Innovative UK Women in Innovation programme, which has been instrumental in supporting female entrepreneurs through funding and mentorship. But lasting change requires collaboration across the public and private sectors. The corporate world has a crucial role to play – establishing mentorship programmes, improving access to funding, and ensuring workplace policies promote gender equity.
A call for collective action
As we celebrate International Women in STEM Day, it’s clear that closing the gender gap requires collective action. We need a comprehensive strategy that connects with women and girls from an early age, keeps them engaged with STEM subjects, and supports them through fulfilling careers and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The stakes couldn’t be higher – not just for the women directly affected, but for the broader economy and society. We need to foster an ecosystem that actively supports women in STEM and entrepreneurship, recognising their contributions as vital to driving economic growth and innovation.
Let’s not leave this potential untapped. By committing to systemic change and targeted support, we can unlock the immense value that gender diversity brings to the STEM fields and beyond.
