Female directors double but talent pipeline needs to grow
30 November 2012
Business secretary Vince Cable told an event at the London Stock Exchange this morning that the case for gender balance is now understood by business, and that challenging the broader culture in firms is the next step forward.
Fri, 30 Nov 2012
Business secretary Vince Cable told an event at the London Stock Exchange this morning that the case for gender balance is now understood by business, and that challenging the broader culture in firms is the next step forward.
Since March this year, the proportion of female director appointments in FTSE-100 companies has doubled compared to the previous year, according to the latest six-monthly Davies Committee report on diversity in the boardroom.Figures from March to September 2012 showed 44.1% of leading UK firms appointed women to their boards, compared to 22.5% from March to September 2011 and in the FTSE-250 they increased to 36.4% from 17.1%.
As previously noted by recruiter.co.uk, the ongoing debate around the women on boards issue has been called “corny” by executive recruiter Baroness Virginia Bottomley, saying that developing a stronger pipeline throughout the labour market is the real priority, while an advocacy group also told Recruiter that proposals which would force reporting of gender breakdown right across the workforce of a company would be a positive step.
Speaking at a seminar at the London Stock Exchange this morning, business secretary Vince Cable said: “The great majority of business leaders I meet with now recognise the economic case for gender balance and are actively working with us to increase the number of women on their boards and executive committees.
“But we must also challenge the paternalistic culture and silent assumptions about women’s priorities that are ultimately keeping the glass ceiling in place.”
Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE, director of the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders and co-author of the report, commented: “The overall increase in female directors is positive but it does disguise the fact that the number of female executive directors has remained static, which is a cause for concern. In the 12 months to September 2012, there were 22 executive directors appointed and not one went to a woman.
“Growing the talent pipeline needs to be at the top of the agenda in every boardroom. For companies to progress and compete they must have the best talent at the highest level and encourage all women to fulfil their potential.”
Business secretary Vince Cable told an event at the London Stock Exchange this morning that the case for gender balance is now understood by business, and that challenging the broader culture in firms is the next step forward.
Since March this year, the proportion of female director appointments in FTSE-100 companies has doubled compared to the previous year, according to the latest six-monthly Davies Committee report on diversity in the boardroom.Figures from March to September 2012 showed 44.1% of leading UK firms appointed women to their boards, compared to 22.5% from March to September 2011 and in the FTSE-250 they increased to 36.4% from 17.1%.
As previously noted by recruiter.co.uk, the ongoing debate around the women on boards issue has been called “corny” by executive recruiter Baroness Virginia Bottomley, saying that developing a stronger pipeline throughout the labour market is the real priority, while an advocacy group also told Recruiter that proposals which would force reporting of gender breakdown right across the workforce of a company would be a positive step.
Speaking at a seminar at the London Stock Exchange this morning, business secretary Vince Cable said: “The great majority of business leaders I meet with now recognise the economic case for gender balance and are actively working with us to increase the number of women on their boards and executive committees.
“But we must also challenge the paternalistic culture and silent assumptions about women’s priorities that are ultimately keeping the glass ceiling in place.”
Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE, director of the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders and co-author of the report, commented: “The overall increase in female directors is positive but it does disguise the fact that the number of female executive directors has remained static, which is a cause for concern. In the 12 months to September 2012, there were 22 executive directors appointed and not one went to a woman.
“Growing the talent pipeline needs to be at the top of the agenda in every boardroom. For companies to progress and compete they must have the best talent at the highest level and encourage all women to fulfil their potential.”
