Employment: Mentoring scheme to increase numbers of female non-executive directors in FTSE

January 9, 2009

An initiative sponsored by BP and MWM Consulting, “Women for Boards” was announced on 23rd September. The scheme aims to address the massive under-representation of women on the boards of Britain’s top companies by providing mentoring by experienced female non-executive directors.

Fewer than 7% of non executive directors across all British quoted companies are women, while 62% of the companies in the FTSE 250 have no women non-executives at all. The aim of the new initiative is to give women experience as non-executives of FTSE 250 and FTSE 350 companies so that they will eventually be in a position to get onto the boards of FTSE100 companies.

Comment

While the government has not evidenced any intention to follow Norway in imposing mandatory quotas for female board membership, with companies that do not comply being wound up, businesses are increasingly being challenged to demonstrate diversity at all levels. Women for Boards hopes to make a significant impact by dramatically increasing the pool of experienced female talent available to accept non-executive posts.

For further information or to discuss the issues raised, please contact Colina Greenway (colina.greenway@abbisscadres.com) on +44 (0) 203 051 5711.

Disclaimer

Content is for general information purposes only. The information provided is
not intended to be comprehensive and it does not constitute or contain
legal or other advice. If you require assistance in relation to any
issue, please seek specific advice relevant to your particular
circumstances.

Category:

Employment/Labor law

CELIA Alliance
CELIA Alliance members are identified here. Members of the CELIA Alliance are each independent law firms and do not practice law jointly with any other member of the CELIA Alliance. “CELIA Alliance” and “CELIA” are not trading names. For more information about the CELIA Alliance click here.

Disclaimer
Content is for general information purposes only. The information provided is not intended to be comprehensive and it does not constitute or contain legal or other advice. If you require assistance in relation to any issue please seek specific advice relevant to your particular circumstances. In particular, no responsibility shall be accepted by the authors or by Abbiss Cadres LLP for any losses occasioned by reliance on any content appearing on or accessible from this newsletter. For further legal information click here.

Copying
If you would like to copy or otherwise reproduce this article then you may do so provided that: (1) any such copy or reproduction is for your own personal use or if it is made available to any third party it is done so on a free of charge basis; and (2) the article is reproduced in full together with the contact details, disclaimer and any logos as they appear on each article.