UK: 2020 Women On Board Target – FTSE 350 Companies Urged By The Government To Step Up

The target, as set by the Hampton-Alexander Review, is for 33 per cent of FTSE board positions to be held by women by the end of 2020. Yesterday BEIS and the Government Equalities Office published a press release looking at the progress made against this target (the Press Release).

The Press Release found that, whilst FTSE100 companies are on track to reach the 33 per cent target by 2020, the FTSE 350 may fall short based on current progress. Among FTSE 350 companies there remain 10 boards that have no women on them, despite overall figures showing that just over 25 per cent of FTSE 350 positions are held by women. The Press Release calculated that 40 per cent of board appointments made between now and the end of 2020 will need to be made to women in order for the FTSE 350 to meet the 33 per cent target by 2020.

This is the latest in a number of gender equality issues highlighted in the media, from gender pay reporting to raising awareness about sexual harassment in the workplace. All of these issues highlight that there is still some way to go to achieve equality.

For the full Press Release please click here.

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