Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

‘New laws needed if firms fail to improve diversity'

A CHAIR of an influential business organisation has called for new laws to force the businesses to improve their diversity if FTSE 350 companies fail to make faster progress this year.

Charlotte Valuer, the new chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD), has accused that the UK’s biggest companies of lying when they say they cannot find enough female or ethnic minority directors.


In an interview with the Guardian ahead of the International Women’s Day, Valeur criticised large listed business firms as they fail to achieve diversity targets.

“I will be very unpopular with FTSE 100, but I don’t actually mind, because it’s not true that it’s difficult,” she said.

The percentage of women on FTSE 250 boards rose only marginally, from 22.8 per cent to 23.7 per cent, whereas the number of female directors in FTSE 100 firms rose from 27.7 per cent to 29 per cent in the year to June 2018, according to Cranfield University.

Many firms claim that it is difficult to find women with the right experience to become directors, but companies are also failing to promote women internally.

More For You

Asian firm acquires Kings Court Hotel for £2.75m

UK-based Nanak Hotels acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel in Warwickshire for £2.75 million. (Photo: Colliers International UK)

Asian firm acquires Kings Court Hotel for £2.75m

UK-BASED Nanak Hotels recently acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel, a 17th-century property in Warwickshire, England, for £2.75 million. This is the first regional acquisition by the privately held firm led by British Indians Harpreet Singh Saluja and Karamvir Singh.

Nanak Hotels, which operates a UK property portfolio, plans to invest in the property's refurbishment and repositioning, according to a statement from Colliers International UK, which brokered the transaction.

Keep ReadingShow less
Priya Nair becomes first woman CEO in Hindustan Unilever's history

Priya Nair (Photo: Unilever)

Priya Nair becomes first woman CEO in Hindustan Unilever's history

PRIYA NAIR has been appointed as the CEO and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), effective from August 1. She will be the first woman to lead the company in its history.

The announcement was made by HUL on Thursday (10). Nair, who currently serves as president, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will take over the role from Rohit Jawa, who will step down on July 31 to pursue other interests.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Economy shrinks again in May, hitting Labour’s growth plans

THE UK economy contracted unexpectedly in May, marking the second consecutive monthly decline, according to official data released on Friday. The figures present a challenge for the Labour government as it attempts to revive economic growth.

Gross domestic product fell by 0.1 per cent in May, following a 0.3 per cent contraction in April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
SBI UK cuts mortgage rates

The bank's commitment to green lending reflects focus on sustainability (Photo: Getty Images)

SBI UK cuts mortgage rates

BANKING major State Bank of India (UK) has cut interest rates on its buy-to-let mortgage products to help landlords reduce borrowing costs.

The bank said the rate cuts would help landlords invest in rental properties and meet growing demand for rental homes across the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less