Plans for gender parity at board and senior leadership level exceeding expectations says Chartered Governance Institute for UK & Ireland

Nearly 50% of UK companies and not for profits have plans to reach gender parity at board level according to the results of a snapshot survey of governance professionals, conducted by the Chartered Governance Institute for UK & Ireland (CGIUKI) in association with The Core Partnership.

Last month the FTSE Woman’s Leaders Review released their report calling on FTSE companies to adopt a minimum 40% target for female appointees to the Board and leadership teams of FTSE 350 companies by 2025.

Many organisations are aiming higher with 46% of organisations stating that plans are in place for gender parity at board level. Respondents also reported good news on developing the pipeline of future female talent with three-quarters (75 per cent) of male and female respondents reporting their company is supporting women into senior leadership roles.

The survey results highlight, on International Women’s Day 2022, the continuing need to ‘break the bias’ in the workplace, particularly at board level.

Sara Drake, CEO of the CGIUKI said:

“It is encouraging to see that nearly half of the respondents said their company has gender parity targets for their boards as we mark International Woman’s Day.

These positive findings put pressure on those organisations which have yet to formulate such plans as they face being left behind. This is particularly true for those in the 25% of companies reportedly not nurturing their female talent for senior leadership roles. Where there is no clear pathway or support those organisations face an exodus of talented women leaving to seek alternative employment where their contribution and leadership skills will be appreciated. Of course, that may well be a competitor.’

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For further information, please contact Jemima Broadbridge, Media Relations Manager:

jbroadbridge@cgi.org.uk

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Notes to Editors:

1. The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland is the qualifying and membership body for governance with over 125 years’ experience of educating and supporting governance professionals. With a Royal Charter purpose of leading ‘effective and efficient governance and administration of commerce, industry and public affairs’, we provide professional development, guidance and thought leadership, and work with regulators and policy makers to champion high standards.
   
   The Institute has divisions in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong/China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Southern Africa, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. The division headquartered in London represents and supports members in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Crown Dependencies and associated territories, which include the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Website: www.cgi.org.uk 
2. The Core Partnership is a specialist recruitment agency for Company Secretaries and governance professionals, based in the City of London. The Core Partnership quick question survey is a monthly survey of the views of governance professionals sponsored and carried out by the agency in association with the CGIUKI.
3. The survey sample features 91 respondents, 64 of whom are female. All participants are Company Secretaries and other types of governance professionals, employed across a range of sectors, from Corporate to NFP.