motherhood is changing
but there is still a huge hole to fill
the statistics
40
mothers are pushed out of the workforce every working hour of the day
74,000
is the total exits each year
70P
is what a woman has for every £1 each man has at retirement
Why Now?
The motherhood penalty isn’t just real - it’s systemic.
Less than 1 in 5 mothers return to full-time work within three years of childbirth, dropping to just 15% after five years.
Source: University of BristolA full 17% of women leave employment entirely within five years of childbirth, compared to just 4% of men.
Source: University of BristolMothers with two children earn 26% less than women without children.
Source: Fawcett SocietyIn 2023, UK mothers were paid £4.44 less per hour than fathers, a 24% hourly pay penalty.
Source: The Guardian
Collage of press headlines highlighting challenges for parents and women: Stylist magazine notes the gender pay gap has widened for the first time since 2013
Collage of press headlines highlighting challenges for parents and women: Sky News states that having a child feels ‘like financial suicide’ as parents take on debt to pay for childcare
Collage of press headlines about gender inequality and barriers for women: an Instagram post notes women would need to start saving at age three to retire with the same pension as men
Grazia quotes Mark Zuckerberg saying companies need more ‘masculine energy’
Collage of press headlines about gender inequality and barriers for women: The Sunday Times highlights the £136,000 cost of being a woman due to pension and pay gaps
Collage of press headlines about gender inequality and barriers for women: ELLE reports on Trump’s presidency having real consequences for UK women
Collage of press headlines about gender inequality and barriers for women: Business Insider says less than 3% of VC funding goes to female-led startups, making community critical for success.
Collage of press headlines highlighting challenges for parents and women: The Guardian reports parents are anxious, lonely and stressed
Recent research from Bloomberg shows the stark reality: women’s earnings often never fully recover after having children. This is exactly why Mums Who Build exists - to challenge these systemic barriers, empower mums with tools and confidence, and create a future where ambition and motherhood can thrive together
PREGNANT THEN SCREWED INSTAGRAM POST ABOUT THE STAGGERING NUMBER OF WOMEN SILENCED BY NDAS AFTER PREGNANCY OR MATERNITY DISCRIMINATION
Instagram post from The Economist showing how motherhood hurts careers
The Economist: Women's jobs are impacted in almost every country by having a child - "the motherhood penalty"
The Economist: talking about how motherhood impacts careers
Who Mums Who Build Is For
Mums Who Build is for mothers who want more
We’re here for women building businesses, growing careers, creating financial independence, or standing at a crossroads asking “what’s next?” Our community is designed for mums raising families, who are ambitious but too often left out of spaces that ignore childcare, flexibility, or the financial realities of motherhood.
We’re not a hobby group or a playdate circle. We’re a network for mums who are serious about growth - women who want to learn, connect, and build futures with the support of others who get it.
It’s also for allies and supporters who know mums deserve equal opportunity, recognition, and security.
And for partners and brands ready to help rewrite the story of motherhood and ambition.
Photo credit: MOB member Nicole Saunders, personal branding photographer.