First observed in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD), always held on 8 March, is an annual event to celebrate women’s achievements across the globe and raise awareness of the many challenges women continue to face on a day-to-day basis.
The theme for IWD 2026 is #GiveToGain, calling on everyone to give their support to gain gender equality.
Globally, men are paid more than women. The global pay gap is estimated to be 20%, and according to a February 2026 analysis by the TUC, women in the UK are paid £2,548 a year less than men on average.
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together, we can forge gender equality.
The key to start to achieve gender equality in pay is ensuring that there are processes in place to regularly review gender parity. Without this, disparity in pay can continue unchecked and unresolved.
Full gender equality is still a long way off, and there is still plenty of work to be done to achieve it, but putting in place measures to do so is beneficial to the business for a huge range of reasons and therefore well worth the investment