Diversity stats don’t tell the full story. On paper, the UK events industry appears progressive - with more women and ethnically diverse professionals than many other sectors. But our latest findings show a disconnect between representation and real equity in the workplace.
At first glance, the UK events industry looks like a diversity success story. Women make up 59.1% of the workforce, and 1 in 4 professionals identify as ethnically diverse — figures that exceed many other sectors, including finance, law, and construction. But when we look beyond the numbers, the story becomes more complex.
Live Recruitment’s Diversity Report 2025 reveals clear disparities in both pay and progression. Male professionals earn an average of £3,500 more than female professionals, and white professionals earn more than their ethnically diverse peers. While women dominate junior and mid-level roles, men still hold most senior positions—especially in technical and supplier-side sectors like AV and Design & Build.
These gaps highlight a crucial distinction: Diversity reflects who’s in the room — equity ensures access to opportunity, support, influence, and a level playing field. To close these gaps, the industry must move from counting heads to changing systems - addressing pay equity, flexible career progression, and inclusive leadership development.
"It’s not enough to celebrate numbers. Real inclusion happens when everyone - regardless of background - has equal access to leadership, pay, and progression." Laura Kelly, Managing Director, Live Recruitment
If the industry wants to claim true progress, we must shift from optics to outcomes - because diversity without equity is just decoration.