London firm Foster + Partners has released its gender pay gap figures, annual data which is now legally required by all firms with over 250 members of staff in the UK.

The practice's median pay gap has reduced from 10.5% to 9.8%, which it attributes to the promotion of four women to Senior Partner roles. 

While the firm states it pays men and women equally for equivalent roles, the gap emerges as there are fewer women in senior management positions. 

The staff at Foster + Partners is 65% male and 35% female. At senior partner level the ratio sharpens, with 82% of the positions occupied by men and just 18% by women. 

“We are aware there is more work to do and we are actively participating in the Women in Architecture Forum, Move the Dial, continuing with the development of our leadership and career opportunities,” the firm told Domus.

A leadership programme and encouragment of joint parental leave will help to redress the imbalance in the workplace over time, the practice says. 

“The main reason for the gap remains with us having more men, with longer service, in senior higher-paid roles within the practice,” says a statement from Foster + Partners.

“We are encouraging more of our women into senior roles to improve diversity at leader level.”