The Recognition Gap
New research from People Like Us and Women in PR reveals that women of colour face the sharpest barriers in UK workplaces. This group is more likely than any other to experience exclusion, discrimination and stalled progression at work. Nearly three in ten say their ideas have been ignored until repeated by someone else, one in five report microaggressions or discrimination, and almost half say they feel behind where they expected to be in their careers.
This isn’t just about individual experiences – it reflects systems that continue to overlook talent. Women of colour are more likely to be passed over for stretch opportunities, face unequal pay and carry the mental load of navigating unfair workplaces.
The Recognition Gap campaign is about turning insight into action. Through The Recognition Gap Pledge, we’re calling on employers, leaders and allies to to do more – from making progression pathways transparent and analysing pay data, to amplifying voices, opening up opportunities and building more inclusive, supportive environments. Real change requires collective action – and a commitment to recognising talent more fairly.
About the Campaign
The Recognition Gap campaign brings together People Like Us and Women in PR to spotlight the intersection of gender and ethnicity – and the unique barriers faced by women of colour and other marginalised women at work. By uniting our communities, we are shining a light on those too often overlooked, under-supported and undervalued across the workforce.
At the heart of the campaign is one clear issue: recognition. From ideas being dismissed in meetings to missed opportunities for progression, marginalised women are disproportionately affected by systems that fail to see, value and reward their contributions. The result is not only stalled careers, but a widening gap in confidence, pay and progression.
But this campaign is not just about highlighting the problem. It’s about action.
Through The Recognition Gap Pledge, we are calling on employers, leaders and allies to recognise more – to be intentional about who is represented in teams and meetings, who is heard, who is supported, and who is progressing.
Alongside this, we are sharing practical, tangible actions for employers and businesses, for individuals as allies and for women of colour – from amplifying ideas in meetings to opening up networks and opportunities. Many of these actions come directly from the women experiencing these barriers and also draw on decades of collective experience of those supporting professionals.
Closing the Recognition Gap requires collective responsibility. This campaign is a call to move beyond good intentions and take meaningful steps to build workplaces where women of colour are recognised – in talent, contribution and leadership potential – and supported to thrive.
