United Kingdom: women occupy one third of board seats at largest UK-listed companies

On 8 February, the UK government revealed that 33% of board seats at FTSE 100 companies are held by women. This particular objective was set in 2016, with companies given until 2020 to reach the target on a voluntary basis (see article n°11200). The most recent Hampton-Alexander Review, which seeks to encourage employers to act and published these latest figures, highlights however that 66% of the 349 women on company boards are human resources directors, while only 15% have finance leadership positions. Furthermore, the 33% target for women on the boards of FTSE 250 companies has not been reached, with the current proportion standing at 29.5%. Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of UK business organisation CBI, says: “The job is far from done,” adding that employers need to “redouble” their efforts. Meanwhile Frances O’Grady, who leads the Trades Union Congress, observes that men are “seven times more likely to be finance directors than women”. Another issue encountered by female directors is sexism. Research by King’s College, highlighted by the government, reveals that 33% of women with positions of responsibility are on the receiving end of sexist comments. Andrea Leadsom, the UK’s business secretary, says: “Businesses must do more to tackle these issues.”