Boardroom gender balance – “a defining moment”

Female board member in a meeting with colleagues 

The target of achieving 40% female board representation in FTSE 350 companies has been met three years early, according to the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review1. 

Women’s board representation increased by nearly 3% in 2022 across the FTSE 350 (40.2%), a stat the government describe as ‘a huge milestone’. Minister for Women Maria Caulfield commented on the news, “Making sure the right people are in the top roles is not just morally right, it makes good business sense. I’m delighted to see this huge progress, years ahead of when we expected it.” 

This is significant when you consider that, just over ten years ago 152 of the FTSE 350 boards had no women on them at all. The report highlights ‘steady progress’ in getting women leaders to the top table of business in the UK, with Nimesh Patel and Penny James, co-chairs of the Review, describing the achievement as “a defining moment and testament to the power of the voluntary approach and the collective efforts of many businesses and individuals over the last decade.” 

1FTSE Women Leaders, 2023 

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