This is according to data released today by the Hampton-Alexander Review that shows for the first time, the FTSE 350 could meet the 33% target for women in senior leadership positions if current progress is maintained.

The review, launched in 2016, aims to ensure that talented women at the top of business are recognised, promoted and rewarded. It set FTSE 350 businesses a target of having 33% of all board and senior leadership positions held by women by the end of 2020.

Today’s figures show 32.1% of FTSE 100 board positions are held by women, up from 12.5% in 2011, while in the FTSE 250, representation has jumped from 24.9% to 27.5%.

Today also marks the portal opening for FTSE 350 companies to submit their senior leadership gender representation data to the Hampton-Alexander Review. Firms have just one month – until 31 July – to lodge the gender split of their executive committee and the direct reports to the executive committee using the portal.

Figures for women on boards of FTSE companies published on 1 June by business intelligence provider BoardEx show that in November 2018:

• FTSE 100 is at 32.1% up from 30.2%
• FTSE 250 is at 27.5% up from 24.9%
• FTSE 350 is at 29.1% up from 26.7%
• Four FTSE 350 all-male boards, down from five

The number of all-male boards across the FTSE 350 has fallen from 152 in 2011 to four. The remaining four companies with all-male boards include:

• Daejan Holdings
• TR Property Investments
• Ferrexpo
• Kainos Group, who joined the FTSE on last Monday (24 June)

In March, the Investment Association (IA) and the Hampton-Alexander Review jointly wrote to 69 companies in the FTSE 350 with one woman or less on their board, outlining concerns about the lack of gender diversity. These organisations were asked to set out what actions the board is taking to ensure progress is made to meet the 2020 target of 33% female representation.

While more than half of respondents recognised the benefits of board diversity and confirmed they are committed to achieving the target either by 2020 or in the near future, 14 companies have not as of yet responded to these letters and still have one woman or less on their board.

These include:

• Baillie Gifford Japan Trust 
• BCA Marketplace 
• Energean Oil & Gas 
• Ferrexpo 
• Grafton Group 
• Herald Investment Trust 
• Hochschild Mining 
• Jupiter European Opportunities Trust 
• Rank Group 
• Riverstone Energy 
• Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund 
• Telecom Plus 
• TR Property Investments
• Tritax Big Box REIT 

Recruiter contacted all 14 organisations for comment. This story will be updated upon receipt of their reply.

In the case of Jupiter European Opportunities Trust, Recruiter understands an appointment of a new female director is imminent and a preferred candidate has been identified by the board, with her appointment anticipated soon. This would bring the female representation on the board to 33%.

A spokesperson for Grafton Group said: “Grafton Group has initiated a process to increase female representation on the board and will make an announcement regarding a second female non-executive director in due course.”

A spokesperson for Rank Group said: "The board continues to value diversity in its broadest sense throughout the group and welcomes the progress it has made in driving forward its diversity and inclusion agenda."

The 2019 Hampton-Alexander Report is due to be published on 13 November 2019.

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