News
National Numeracy launches Gender Equality recommendations at Capital One
13 Mar 2025
Last night, over 100 attendees gathered at Capital One’s offices for the launch of the Numeracy for Gender Equality recommendations from the National Numeracy Leadership Council's Gender Taskforce.
The National Numeracy event, hosted by Capital One, served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing barriers women face in the workplace, particularly when it comes to confidence in numeracy. Through networking and thought-provoking discussions, the evening highlighted the significant challenges women face and the urgent need for change.
New research reveals alarming trends
Sam Sims, CEO of National Numeracy, unveiled new research at the event which paints a stark picture: over a third of women feel discouraged from applying for jobs that involve numbers and data.
This lack of confidence not only holds individuals back but also limits entire industries, stifles innovation, and slows economic growth.
A panel discussion driving change
The event featured a compelling panel discussion with notable industry leaders who shared their insights and experiences on the real-world impact of low numeracy confidence. Panellists included:
- Lucy-Marie Hagues MBE, CEO of Capital One UK
- Kirsty Marsh-Hyde, Taskforce member and Senior Apprenticeships Development Manager at NHS England
- Tammy Fevrier, Leadership Council member and Deputy Director – Sector, Skills, Employers and Progression | Labour Market Strategy, Analysis and Policy Directorate at the Department for Work and Pensions
- Rachel Riley, broadcaster, author, and National Numeracy Ambassador
Each panellist brought unique perspectives on the barriers women face in numeracy-related roles and the steps required to overcome them.
Kirsty Marsh-Hyde on the NHS challenge
Kirsty Marsh-Hyde spoke about how low numeracy confidence holds women back within the NHS, the largest employer in Europe and the sixth-largest globally. She highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare support workers – predominantly women – who often possess the necessary competencies in maths but lack the confidence to apply them. This gap in confidence hinders their career progression, blocking access to roles such as nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. “This isn’t just an individual barrier; it’s a societal challenge,” said Kirsty. “These workers play a crucial role in healthcare, and their untapped potential is a missed opportunity.”
Rachel Riley on rethinking recruitment
Rachel Riley MBE, the nation’s maths expert, discussed how job advertisements are often framed in ways that unintentionally discourage women. Drawing from her own experiences, she acknowledged her own struggles with numeracy confidence during her time at Oxford University. She shared how subtle changes in language, such as describing a role as “nurturing a team” instead of “managing a team,” could make roles feel more accessible to women. She emphasised the importance of rethinking how recruitment and job advertisements are framed, stressing the need to highlight qualities like creativity and empathy – traits that are more likely to resonate with women.
“I’ve seen time and time again that women are less likely to apply for roles involving numbers when they’re described in traditional, male-oriented terms,” Rachel explained. “If we reframed certain fields, like engineering, as creative and problem-solving roles, we could attract more women into these areas.”
Tammy Fevrier on continuous skills development
Tammy Fevrier, Deputy Director of Youth and Skills at the Department for Work and Pensions, discussed the importance of continuous skills development. “Once you're in work, if you're not continuously improving yourself, you're moving backwards. The world is changing, and the workforce needs to evolve with it,” she said. She also praised the ongoing work between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and National Numeracy, particularly efforts to empower job coaches and staff to identify skills gaps and build confidence in job seekers. This approach helps workers thrive, not just enter the workforce.
Lucy-Marie Hagues MBE on confidence in leadership
Lucy-Marie Hagues MBE, CEO of Capital One UK, shared her thoughts on the importance of confidence in addressing numeracy challenges, especially in leadership roles. “The maths involved in running a business isn’t overly complex – it’s about addition, subtraction, and ratios. Yet, I often see women turning away from leadership roles because they feel overwhelmed by numbers,” Lucy-Marie explained. “It takes confidence to ask questions that others may not be asking. And that’s key – don’t be afraid to ask what might seem like a ‘stupid’ question. You’ll often find that no one else understood it either.”
She encouraged women, especially those early in their careers, to ask questions and embrace discomfort. “If we create an environment where asking questions is normalized, we’ll have more women at every level in business, including decision-making roles.”
A call for cultural change
The event concluded with a call for a cultural shift in how we approach numeracy and gender equality in the workplace. By encouraging a culture of questioning, fostering confidence, and reshaping how roles are pitched, more women can be empowered to step into numeracy-related roles and leadership positions.
The event also saw the Chancellor acknowledge the ongoing work of National Numeracy, reinforcing the importance of tackling this issue at every level to ensure a more inclusive and equal future for women in the workplace.
Through initiatives like the Gender Taskforce, we hope to continue breaking down barriers and driving meaningful change for women across all sectors.
