{"id":93275,"date":"2018-06-27T09:30:03","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T09:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=bf3393ca2d08f9c082cefa12a11ec86d"},"modified":"2018-06-27T09:30:03","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T09:30:03","slug":"press-release-ftse-350-urged-to-step-up-to-meet-2020-women-on-boards-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=93275","title":{"rendered":"Press release: FTSE 350 urged to step up to meet 2020 women on boards targets"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 100 firms on track to reach government-backed target of 33% of board positions going to women by 2020 but <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 may fall short<\/li>\n<li>halfway point of Hampton-Alexander Review shows quarter of <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 board positions are held by women, but there remain 10 all-male boards<\/li>\n<li>online portal opens for <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 to submit 2018 gender diversity leadership data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More women than ever before are on the boards of the UK\u2019s largest companies but they still have some way to go to meet the target of 33% women by 2020, according to new data revealed today (27 June) to mark the halfway point of a government-backed review.<\/p>\n<p>Figures released today by the Hampton-Alexander Review, which aims to ensure that talented women at the top of business are recognised, promoted and rewarded show 305 positions &#8211; 29% of <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 100 board positions &#8211; are held by women, up from 12.5% in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>Launched in 2016, the government-backed Hampton-Alexander Review set <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 businesses a target of having 33% of all board and senior leadership positions held by women by the end of 2020. Today\u2019s statistics show that if progress matches the same gains made over the last three years, then <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 100 companies are on track to meet the 2020 target.<\/p>\n<p>However, today\u2019s announcement also revealed that while the number of women on boards has increased to 25.5% in <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies, around 40% of all appointments need to go to women in the next 2 years for the <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 to achieve the 33% target.<\/p>\n<p>While some <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies are on track to meet the government-backed targets for women on boards, others are lagging behind. These have today been urged to emulate success stories of the 80-plus companies already at or beyond the 33% such as hospitality company Whitbread, alcoholic drinks company Diageo, and  fashion retailer Next.<\/p>\n<p>Sir Philip Hampton, Chair of the Hampton-Alexander Review said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>It is good to see progress of women on boards continuing with the <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 100 likely to hit the 33% target in 2020. However, nearly half of all available board appointments in the run up to 2020 now need to go to women if the <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 are to meet the target.<\/p>\n<p>Far too many companies still have no women &#8211; or only one woman &#8211; on their board.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, progress in executive and leadership positions is eagerly awaited as the portal for companies to submit their gender data opens today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">We\u2019ll be analysing the data on women in executive leadership roles and hope to see increasing numbers of women joining Executive Committees, or reporting to ExCo members, in the <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Business Minister Andrew Griffiths today called on businesses to prioritise their commitment to tackling gender inequality, saying:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>While it is great to see there are more women at the top of Britain\u2019s largest businesses than ever before and I applaud those businesses who have made great strides, it is clear there is still a long way to go and I urge businesses to keep stepping up and championing diversity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">The Hampton-Alexander Review is highlighting the benefits of everyone having an equal opportunity to reach the top, and I commend their effort in driving this important initiative.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Minister for Women Victoria Atkins said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>This government is absolutely committed to increasing diversity in business, and we are leading the way in supporting the work of the Hampton Alexander Review to make sure <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> companies support and develop their female talent pipeline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Women are good for business: they bring valuable perspectives and experiences to the decision-making process. <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies need to do their bit and accelerate progress. There is no excuse for having an all-male board.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The online portal for <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies to submit their 2018 gender leadership data also opens today. Progress made on women in executive and leadership roles will be revealed in November.<\/p>\n<p>Melanie Richards Deputy Chair at KPMG, sponsor of the Review said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>These figures are a significant step in the right direction and reflect the efforts and change in emphasis businesses have placed on tackling the gender gap. But it is undeniable that there is more to do to achieve equality in the Boardroom.<\/p>\n<p>In order to achieve these ambitious targets significant change is required, which will not happen overnight. It will take systematic focus on all aspects of recruitment and retention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">The progression of women remains key, coupled with an emphasis on creating environments in which talent can thrive, leadership stereotypes are challenged and individuals are valued for their skills and capabilities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Investment Association (<abbr title=\"Investment Association\">IA<\/abbr>) is working with investors to achieve better gender representation in the boardroom. In April 2018, the <abbr title=\"Investment Association\">IA<\/abbr> and the Hampton-Alexander Review wrote to 35 <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies who were falling short on their gender diversity targets.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Executive of the Investment Association Chris Cummings said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The dial has shifted: gender diversity is now front and centre of investors\u2019 minds. Firms with a diverse management team and pipeline make better decisions, so this is a business-critical issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Companies must demonstrate that they have diverse management teams or have concrete plans to increase diversity, or face possible shareholder revolt.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Last month, the team behind the Hampton-Alexander Review revealed shocking explanations from sexist <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> bosses for not appointing women to their boards, which showed that some companies are still refusing to move with the times.<\/p>\n<p>Tackling the gender pay gap is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/industrial-strategy-building-a-britain-fit-for-the-future\">Industrial Strategy<\/a>, government\u2019s long-term plan to build a Britain fit for the future, with the ambition to help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs and ensure everyone can be successful in the workplace.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/gb\/our-people\/uk-gender-pay-gap-report\">Bridging the gender pay gap<\/a> could add \u00a3150 billion to the UK economy by 2025. Many companies reporting their gender pay gap earlier this year explained that the pay gap was due to insufficient women in senior roles, and\/or a predominance of women in lower paid work. Ensuring women are selected in more equal numbers for senior roles, significantly helps to reduce the pay gap.<\/p>\n<p>Under new laws, all companies with 250 or more employees were required to report their gender pay gaps. Over 10,000 public, private and voluntary sector businesses have now reported.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"notes-to-editors\">Notes to editors<\/h2>\n<p>Figures for women on boards of <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> companies published on 1 June by BoardEx, a business intelligence provider, show:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 100 is at 29% up from 27.7% in October<\/li>\n<li>\n<abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 250 is at 23.6% up from 22.8% in October<\/li>\n<li>\n<abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 is at 25.5% up from 24.5% in October<\/li>\n<li>10 <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 all-male boards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The 10 <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies with all-male boards are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Baillie Gifford Japan Trust Plc<\/li>\n<li>Daejan Holdings Plc<\/li>\n<li>Herald Investment Trust Plc<\/li>\n<li>Integrafin Holdings Plc<\/li>\n<li>JP Morgan Japanese Investment Trust Plc<\/li>\n<li>On The Beach Group Plc<\/li>\n<li>Sports Direct International Plc<\/li>\n<li>Stobart Group Ltd<\/li>\n<li>TBC Bank Group Plc<\/li>\n<li>Ti Fluid Systems Plc<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The 2018 Hampton-Alexander Report will be published on the 13 November 2018, a year after last year\u2019s report.<\/p>\n<p>The Hampton-Alexander portal is open for <abbr title=\"Financial Times Stock Exchange\">FTSE<\/abbr> 350 companies to submit their 2018 data on women in leadership &#8211; ie the number of men and women on the Executive Committee and the Direct Reports to the Executive Committee from 27 June to 31 July 2018 <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/ftsewomenleaders.com\">https:\/\/ftsewomenleaders.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Figures released today by the Hampton-Alexander Review show 29% of FTSE 100 board positions are held by women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}