The latest progress report from Cranfield School of Management, following Lord Davies’ review of women on boards, has shown an increase in the number of women recruited to the boardrooms of the UK’s largest companies. There has also been a notable commitment by business to remove the obstacles preventing women making it to the boardroom.
The progress report also reviews which FTSE 100 companies have become ‘early adopters’ of the recommendations set out last year by the UK Corporate Governance Code. FTSE 100 companies were encouraged to report their policy on boardroom diversity and report on the progress they make against any measurable objectives they have set themselves.
Dr Ruth Sealy, co-author of the report commented: “Pleasingly 60% of the 92 reports analysed had a clear diversity policy demonstrating a culture change is beginning to take place. Forty-seven per cent of the company reports we analysed demonstrated clear policies or measures specifically aimed at increasing women in senior management positions, and 18% of companies stated measurable objectives.“
Dr Sealy went on to say: “The fact that a significant percentage of FTSE 100 companies already have clear diversity policies and have set and disclosed targets shows we have come a long way. This proves that the UK’s voluntary, business-led approach is having a positive impact. There is still a long way to go but the culture of the boardroom is changing.”
