MHR celebrates International Women’s Day 2026
People from across the business came together to mark the occasion with a special event on our Mere Way campus.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the social, cultural, and political achievements of women, as well as a reminder of the distance that still remains to travel before we arrive at full gender equality.
This year, we celebrated International Women’s Day at MHR with a company-wide breakfast. Our canteen was packed with people who came down to take part, and our Chairman, Jessica Mills, gave a short speech highlighting the important contributions of women to MHR.
All week we also ran a series in which men and women from across different departments and levels of seniority were encouraged to reflect on the contributions of women to their individual lives, and the actions that are still required for the achievement of full gender equality. Particularly heart-warming were the stories people told about the women who had inspired them in their careers or personal lives.
International Women’s Day in 2026.
This year marks 115 years of International Women’s Day; 115 years of celebration and collective action. The theme for this landmark year is ‘Give to Gain’, emphasising the importance of generosity and mutual support. It is a reminder that individuals, communities, and organisations all hold the power to increase opportunities and support for women and girls, whether by questioning stereotypes and bias, providing mentoring and training opportunities, or celebrating the contributions of women and positioning them as role models to be followed.
At MHR, in addition to our celebration of International Women’s Day, we are committed to playing our part in this effort. We work to encourage women and girls into the traditionally male dominated software industry and our efforts are bringing results. 40% of our employees are women, against a UK industry average of just 26%. And at the lower or entry level, our workforce is evenly split 50% women, 50% men, reflecting the success of our recent initiatives to provide opportunities to women to begin a career in the software industry.
We recognise that there is always more work to be done, but the creation of a diverse, supportive culture where all employees are given the same opportunities and progression is a core part of our values.
