Women hold 40 per cent of board positions report states

A new study shows 40 per cent of UK FTSE 100 board positions are held by women, compared with 12.5 per cent 10 years ago.

The data has been published in a new report by the government-backed FTSE Women Leaders Review, which monitors women’s representation in 24,000 positions on FTSE 350 Boards and in leadership teams of the UK’s biggest companies, building on the success of the previous Hampton-Alexander and Davies Reviews.

Today’s findings demonstrate a major sea-change in attitudes to getting women leaders to the top table of business in the UK, with women’s board representation increasing in 2021 across the FTSE 100 (39.1 per cent), FTSE 250 (36.8 per cent) and FTSE 350 (37.6 per cent).

The report highlights the success of the UK government’s voluntary, business-led approach to setting targets for getting more women on boards, as the UK progressed from fifth to second in the international rankings at FTSE 100 level, leapfrogging countries such as Norway, which enforces a mandatory quota system on businesses.

The number of women in Chair roles across the FTSE 350 rose to 48, up from 39 in 2020, and there has been a significant decrease in the number of ‘One & Done’ boards to just 6 this year, as British businesses take action to diversify their boardrooms.

The report also shines a light on areas where there is still more to do. For example, only 1 in 3 leadership roles and around 25 per cent of all executive committee roles are held by women and there are very few women in the CEO role. Equally, there are many companies yet to hit the former 33 per cent target set by the review.

Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, said: “It is excellent to see the progress being made, but we know there is more to be done. This government is committed to levelling up all parts of our country, working to tackle inequality and promoting equality of opportunity, including at senior level, so everyone can thrive.”

“We will shortly put forward a range of measures to advance equality for women at work, increasing opportunity, and tackling the issues that are holding women back as we look to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential.”

To ensure British companies continue to open up opportunities today’s FTSE Women Leaders Review report has set out new recommendations, including:

• The voluntary target for FTSE 350 Boards and for leadership teams is increased to a minimum of 40% women’s representation by the end of 2025

• FTSE 350 companies to have at least one woman in the Chair, Senior Independent Director role on the Board and/or one woman in the Chief Executive Officer or Finance Director role by the end of 2025

• Extending the scope of the FTSE Women Leaders Review beyond FTSE 350 companies to include the largest 50 private companies in the UK by sales