Elevate Equity 2026

Dates
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 09:30 to 15:00
Location
The Open University, Hub Theatre, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA

Recent data from McKinsey found that women are underrepresented at all levels of corporate roles. In the UK, Office of National Statistics (ONS) data found that women’s employment rate was 71.8% compared to men at 78.2%. Women between 16 and 64 are also more likely to be economically inactive – often due to caring responsibilities.

Why does this matter to employers?

These inequities impact employers and sectors in different ways – from attraction through to retention and progression.

For example, The Engineering Council found that women are concluding their engineering careers around 17 years earlier than men. Despite the vast majority nursing professionals being women, the Royal College of Nursing estimated that by 2029, 11,000 nursing staff will have left the profession without spending a decade in the job.

These different issues translate into fewer women progressing towards leading organisations and driving change. ONS data found that only 15% of UK SMEs were led by women in 2023. In January 2025, it was revealed that 42.8% of FTSE100 directorships were occupied by women according to FTSE Women’s Leaders – despite further data from McKinsey that links gender diverse leadership with organisational success.

From challenge to opportunity

The Open University (OU) has helped hundreds of thousands of women progress their careers – underpinned by high quality research. In this latest edition of its Elevate Equity hybrid event series, attendees will hear from a wide range of major employers from across various sectors who will outline how they are supporting, reskilling and upskilling women in their workforce.

They will share experiences in forward-thinking skills development, employee support initiatives, sponsorship and allyship. You will learn how to increase the longevity of women’s careers and help them grow into senior positions to drive further cultural, equitable change for the next generation in your organisation.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Open University campus. To ensure we get the most out of the day, we would appreciate you joining us for the full conference. We will provide breakfast, lunch, and refreshments, so please advise us if you have any dietary requirements.

09:30-10:00 Welcome and refreshments
10:00-10:15 Host introduction
10:15-11:00 Panel discussion: Re-engineering access in STEM and Digital
11:00-11:30 Refreshment break
11:30-12:15 Panel discussion: Why women leave female-dominated professions
12:30-13:30 Lunch and networking
13:30-13:45 Keynote speech
13:45-14:30 Panel discussion: From longevity to leadership: supporting the move into decision-making
14:30-14:45 Host summary and close
14:45-15:00 Networking
15:00 Event finish
10:15-11:00

With women underrepresented across these areas, this session explores how access barriers are shortening career expectancy before it fully begins.

This session will cover:

  • Why are women still underrepresented in STEM and digital despite years of intervention?
  • The “leaky pipeline” effect: where and why women drop off before and during early career stages.
  • Structural vs perceived barriers: skills confidence, accessibility of pathways, and workplace culture.
  • The role of flexible and modular learning (including part-time and distance study) in widening access.
  • How employers can rethink hiring: transferable skills, potential over pedigree.
  • Early career support and onboarding: setting women up for long-term career sustainability.
  • Collaboration between education providers and employers to create scalable talent pipelines.

Speaker

TBC

11:30-12:15

Even in sectors dominated by women, high attrition and limited progression are shortening careers—highlighting that representation does not equal equity or longevity.

This session will cover:

  • Why high female representation does not translate into long-term retention or leadership progression.
  • The impact of economic drivers, including caring responsibilities.
  • The role of flexible working, return-to-work pathways, and lifelong learning in boosting retention.
  • Access to meaningful progression: are development opportunities aligned with real career pathways?
  • Sponsorship and mentorship: unlocking advancement opportunities.
  • Examples of reskilling and upskilling initiatives extending career longevity.

Speaker

TBC

13:45-14:30

With women still underrepresented in senior leadership, this session explores how organisations can convert longer, more rewarding careers into leadership and senior roles.

This session will cover:

  • Why career longevity alone doesn’t guarantee progression into leadership.
  • The leadership gap: from workforce participation to decision-making power.
  • The business case: linking gender-diverse leadership to organisational success.
  • What effective allyship looks like in practice—from leadership teams to line managers.
  • Sponsorship, advocacy, and opening pathways to senior roles.
  • Embedding inclusive leadership behaviours across organisations.
  • Measuring progress: how organisations track and incentivise equity outcomes.
  • Building leadership pipelines that support the next generation of women leaders.

Speaker

TBC

Getting here

The Open University, Hub Theatre, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA

Google Maps link

Directions:

By car: Please make your way to the Hub Theatre. There are ample spaces nearby in the ‘Church Parking’ and other car parks.
By train: The campus is 4 miles from Milton Keynes Central railway station, served by Avanti West Coast between Birmingham and London (Euston).
By taxi: Please ask the driver to take you direct to The Open University campus – Walton Hall.

More travel detail can be found here.

Social media

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