Earlier this month the Government announced a new review aimed at considering how best to improve female representation in leadership positions.
The review will consider how to raise the target of women on the FTSE board of directors. In the 6 months to March of this year only 25% of FTSE 100 directors were female, the lowest level since 2011.
The FTSE board of directors is far from unique in having a disproportionate ratio of men to women – 15 of the boards of Britain’s top 350 companies are comprised wholly of men. Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Baroness Neville-Rofle noted that although there has been a recent increase of 137% in the number of women on boards, that has not been reflected in FTSE 350 boards where women still only account for 7% of executive directors.
The review will oversee efforts to reach a target of 33% of women on FTSE 350 boards by 2020 and will include a review of existing research as well as consultation with CEOs and women in senior positions. It is expected to contain recommendations to the business community as to how representation of women at board level can be improved, and to give consideration to obstacles women might face in reaching the boardroom.
Chambers and Partners
The Clarkslegal team are commercial and good to work with. They get what our business needs and tell me what I need to hear.
