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Outmoded stereotypes need to be removed from some industries, says leading recruitment figure

Some industries still need to ‘remove outmoded stereotypes’ if women are to reach parity with men on business boards, according to a leading UK recruitment figure.

Carmen Watson, chairperson of Pertemps, believes progress is being made but at a slower rate than is needed.

But she hopes that events such as Women of the Year – which includes a prize for Businesswoman of the Year – will help to address the balance by inspiring more young women to put themselves forward for more senior roles.

Pertemps is a sponsor of the event that will be staged this October at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel.

Carmen said: “The good news is that the overall percentage of women on boards is as high as it’s ever been. The not-so-good news is that many companies in the UK still have no female board members at all. So we are making progress but at a slower rate than is needed.

“Events such as Women of the Year, therefore, continue to be of vital importance if we are to inspire the cultural shift that is needed within certain industries to further increase the number of women in senior positions.

“I continually hear how it’s too difficult to recruit women to boards or senior management in certain sectors, particularly IT science and engineering. But here in the UK we now have female-led businesses in pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and engineering, electronics and information technology. This proves that it can be done if these industries remove outmoded stereotypes.

“Women, of course, have their own part to play and it is through this kind of celebration that we can highlight those successful females who have spoken out, struck a balance between work and home and negotiated with the best of them. Let’s toast their successes, showcase their achievements and use their stories to inspire the next generation of businesswomen.”

Previous winners of Businesswoman of the Year include Baroness Karren Brady CBE, Hilary Devey CBE and the current title holder, Jacqui O’Donovan, who runs London-based O’Donovan Waste Disposal Ltd.

Judy Groves, director of the Businesswoman of the Year Award, said: “We are delighted to have Pertemps and Carmen on board as supporters of the awards.

“It is absolutely vital that businesswomen put themselves forward because it’s imperative that we show young women and girls that there are role models in industry for them to aspire to.”

New sponsors – HSBC, ‘Your Relaxing Music Mix’ station Smooth Radio and Britain’s biggest commercial news talk station LBC – join British Airways, Freeths, Pertemps, SCC and Birmingham City University in offering their support to the event which shines a light on inspirational businesswomen across the country.

The event is also supported by key industry organisations including the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), the Royal Aeronautical Society, the CBI and the WMG Academy for Young Engineers at the University of Warwick and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Funds this year will be raised for Tomorrow’s People and national disability charity Revitalise.

The closing date for entries is September 11 and will be followed by an interview stage for shortlisted candidates on September 22.

The winner will be announced at a luncheon and awards ceremony at Birmingham Hilton Metropole on Friday, October 6.

Anyone wanting to apply for the award or nominate an inspirational businesswoman should email Judy Groves via Judy@rigbygroupplc.com

Anyone wishing to purchase tickets for the prestigious 35th anniversary of the awards luncheon event should email event@womenoftheyearawards.org.uk

To engage on social media, use #WOTY2017, #makeithappen or #inspirationalwomen

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .