Partner Article

Women on boards increases by a third

The number of women on UK boards has risen by a third over the past year following the introduction of voluntary targets, according to the Government.

In 2011 the former Trade Minister Lord Davies introduced targets to boost the number of women sitting on the executive boards of FTSE 100 companies in a move aimed to increased diversity within business. Since then the figures has risen to 16.7%, from 12.5% 12 months ago.

Initially the Government introduced voluntary targets of increasing female representation to 25% by 2015, but if firms do not show sufficient progress, they have been threatened with the threat of mandatory EU quotas.

Many business leaders have been keen to avoid this.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable praised the “progress” which has been made, noting that that mandatory quotas are working well.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Audrey Williams, partner at law firm Eversheds, said: “The Government will be hoping these latest figures stave off pressure from the European Parliament to introduce EU-wide laws setting binding quotas for women on company boards, a move which Vince Cable has said he would oppose.

FTSE companies are moving in the right direction and now need to maintain the momentum they have built up.“

Despite this progress, many believe that it will still take time to implement full boardroom equality, and to support this businesses must look at ways to encourage the progress of not only women but all diverse employee groups.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .