Third of FTSE 100 board members are women: Study  

A THIRD of all board positions in the UK’s FTSE 100 companies are now held by women, a research showed.

This means a key target of the government-backed Hampton-Alexander Review has been met almost a year earlier.

The figures show 33 per cent of all FTSE 100 board members are now women, up from just 12.5 per cent less than a decade ago.

However, on the flipside, just 15 per cent of the FTSE 100 finance directors were women.

The latest research was produced exclusively for the review by the Global Institute for Women Leadership at King’s College London.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom welcomed the development in meeting the target, achieved on an entirely voluntary basis without the need for legislation, fines or penalties.

However, figures from the review highlight a concerning lack of female representation in senior leadership and key executive roles in FTSE companies.

The data shows that further work is needed for many FTSE 100 companies individually, and for the FTSE 250 overall to meet the 33 per cent target, as it currently sits at 29.5 per cent.

Research also shows women face everyday sexism in the workplace, with examples including higher reports of insults or angry outbursts directed at women compared to men.

King’s College surveyed almost 350 men and women at board or executive committee level and found that 33 per cent of women reported someone at work had made disrespectful or insulting remarks about them, compared to 13 per cent of men.

The study further noted 23 per cent of women reported that they had been shouted or sworn at by someone at work, compared to 16 per cent of men.

Around 34 per cent of women reported someone at work had ignored or failed to speak to them, or given them the “silent treatment” compared to 23 per cent of men, the study added.

Professor Rosie Campbell, Director of the Global Institute for Women Leadership, King’s College London, said: “Where there are hostile workplace cultures, we simply can't ask women to lean in and try harder to reach leadership positions.

“Instead, we need to ensure that undermining behaviour is called out, not rewarded, and build an inclusive environment that embraces diverse leaders and allows everyone to thrive and give their best work.”

The forthcoming employment bill will seek to better support women in the workplace, with measures including enhanced protection from pregnancy and maternity discrimination and, subject to consultation, making flexible working the default.

Leadsom said: “The Hampton-Alexander Review has done a fantastic work. But it’s clear that women continue to face barriers to success, whether that’s through promotion to key roles or how they are treated by colleagues.

“Businesses must do more to tackle these issues, and we will support them in doing so, including through our world leading reforms on workplace rights.”

Denise Wilson, CEO of Hampton-Alexander Review, said: “Half of all available appointments to FTSE 350 leadership roles need to go to women in 2020, not only to meet the 33 per cent voluntary target, but to ensure the UK business fully benefits from diverse perspectives and is availing itself of the whole talent pool.”