Revealed: The UK cities with the most female leaders

Manchester, Birmingham & Bristol in Top 10 UK Cities Championing the Surge in Female Leaders!    

• The UK has witnessed a remarkable 150% surge in female leadership positions. 
• London leads the way with 32,854 female leaders, followed distantly by Manchester at 3,269. 
• Real estate emerges as the top industry for female leaders, showing a staggering 147% growth in female leadership since 2018-2019. 

A recent study, carried out by Instant Offices provides an in-depth look into the landscape of female leadership throughout the UK. The focus of this analysis spans various dimensions such as location, age, and industry sectors. The results not only spotlight the current scenario but also gauge the trajectory in the representation of female leadership. 

Instant Offices, as a pioneering entity in the flexible workspace solution sector, remains committed to facilitating businesses with updated data-driven insights. With its comprehensive analysis, Instant Offices aids businesses in navigating the ever-evolving workspace landscape. 

1. Cities Making Strides: 

Leading the pack, London emerges as the paramount hub for female leaders, with a total count of 32,854. This count dwarfs the second-placed Manchester, which hosts 3,269 female leaders. A unique trend surfaces in London where a significant majority of leadership roles are held by the younger demographic aged 18-25. As we traverse the length and breadth of the UK, older demographics are more prevalent in leadership roles, signifying the capital’s distinctive appeal to younger leaders. 

Top 10 cities with the most female leaders

London	32,854
Manchester	3,269
Birmingham	2,516
Bristol	1,582
Leeds	1,548
Nottingham	1,539
Leicester	1,252
Liverpool	1,246
Cardiff	1,226
Sheffield	1,056

2. Age & Leadership: 

The age distribution among female leaders paints a vivid picture. Women aged between 31 and 40 are leading the pack, holding the highest number of leadership positions. On the contrary, those between 18-25 hold fewer positions. It’s also noteworthy that a decline in leadership roles can be observed among women over 40 – a trend potentially influenced by women stepping back from the workforce in their later years.

Number of female leadership positions by age

18-25	4,240
25-30	13,072
31-40	26,615
41-50	20,676
50+	17,411

3. Industries Pioneering Change: 

Entrepreneurship emerges as a significant catalyst, propelling more women into leadership roles. The real estate industry champions this cause with a total of 19,984 positions held by women. This represents a breathtaking 147% increase from the numbers observed in the years 2018-2019. Furthermore, industries like retail & beauty and business support services have also showcased significant growth in female leadership, proving that a holistic shift towards inclusive leadership isn’t just a hope but a reality. 

Top 10 industries with the most female leaders

Letting/operating personal real estate	8736
Buying/selling of personal real estate	7872
Mail order & online retail	6765
Management or consultancy	6709
Business support services	4530
Other service activities	3951
Activities for holding companies	3487
Hairdressing and other beauty treatment	3167
Dormant Company	2997
Health & Wellbeing	2867

This comprehensive data not only highlights the current trends but also underscores a promising uptrend in the representation of female leadership across various industries and cities in the UK. With such encouraging statistics, the prospects for aspiring female leaders in the UK shine brighter than ever.