The third Women in Transport Equity Index survey is open now and closes on 30th November 2026. It's free, takes 10 to 15 minutes, and every response adds to the clearest picture we have of gender equity across UK transport.
Two years ago, women made up 23% of the workforce in the organisations that took part. In 2025, that figure was 27%, and women held 36% of leadership roles, up from 26%.
Yet nearly six in ten of those organisations still reported a gender pay gap of 11% or more. Almost two-thirds had no plan to close it.
So this year we're asking employers one straightforward question: what has changed?
What the 2025 Index told us
100 organisations took part in 2025, across rail, road, maritime, logistics, bus and coach, cycling, consultancy and government. Their answers showed progress on who works in transport, and much slower progress on how they are paid and supported.
Representation is rising. Women made up 27% of the workforce, up from 23% in 2023, and held 36% of leadership roles, up from 26%.
The pay gap is stubborn. 59% of organisations reported a gender pay gap of 11% or more, and 65% had no action plan to reduce it.
Support for parents has stalled. Average fully paid parental leave for primary carers stayed at eight weeks. Just 21% of organisations offered 20 weeks or more.
Every part of the sector improved its average score between 2023 and 2025, although some moved much further than others.
| Sector | 2023 score | 2025 score | 2025 sector leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rail | 69% | 71% | LNER |
| Bus and coach | 55% | 60% | First Bus |
| Consultancy | 54% | 55% | Steer |
| Logistics | 47% | 50% | Wm Armstrong |
| Maritime | 48% | 49% | – |
| Cycling | 43% | 47% | Sustrans |
| Road | 40% | 41% | – |
Figures describe the organisations that took part, not the whole UK transport workforce. That's exactly why more responses make the picture sharper.
What taking part involves – and what you get back
The survey is run by Women in Transport in partnership with WORK180. It covers recruitment, pay, progression, representation and workplace policies, and it's open to transport organisations of every size and mode.
It's quick and free. Most organisations finish in 10 to 15 minutes.
Returning? Your data is waiting. If you took part before, your previous answers are saved, so you can review, update and track your progress over time.
You see where you stand. You'll get a summary that benchmarks your organisation against your part of the sector and the transport Index as a whole.
Leaders are recognised. The top five in each index receive a 2026 badge and certificate.
Your data stays private. All responses are anonymised and aggregated before anything is published.
We especially want to hear from organisations that haven't taken part before: smaller employers, suppliers and businesses with frontline or operational teams. Their experience is the part of the picture we see least.
The findings will be published on International Women's Day, 8th March 2027.
Why we're asking
“Transport employers are competing for skills at the same time as they are changing how services are delivered. That makes recruitment and retention a boardroom issue. The Index tells us where employers have made headway and where their policies still fall short. We want organisations of every size to take part, including those that have never completed the survey before.”
Sonya Byers OBE, CEO, Women in Transport
“The value of the third survey is that we can ask a straightforward question: what has changed? In 2025 we saw encouraging improvements in representation, but stubborn problems on pay and support for working parents. More responses, particularly from smaller employers and frontline businesses, will give us a clearer view of what needs to happen next.”
Sue Terpilowski OBE, Equity Index Lead, Women in Transport
“Transport needs skilled people in every part of the country. We should understand what helps women enter the industry, stay in it and move into senior and operational jobs. I welcome this opportunity for employers to contribute evidence and show what they are doing to widen opportunity.”
Julia Buckley MP, Chair, APPG for Women in Transport
“Now in its third year, the Women in Transport Equity Index is building an increasingly valuable picture of industry progress while highlighting where greater action is needed.”
Gemma Lloyd, CEO and Co-founder, WORK180
Take part before 30th November
Taken part before? Log in to the WORK180 Progress Hub, review last year's answers and update them.
New to the Index? Register and take the survey, or email Equity Index Lead Sue Terpilowski at sue.terpilowski@womenintransport.com.
Pass it on. Share this post with your HR team, your suppliers and the people who run your frontline operations, and use #WomeninTransportEquityIndex and #EquityinTransport.
Find out more about the Index and download previous reports at womenintransport.com/equity-index.
The 2026 Women in Transport Equity Index is supported by The Seafarers' Charity, Network Rail, Camilleri Appointments, FM Conway, Lotus Consilium Limited and Equal Route Ltd.