A review looking into gender equality on UK boards has recommended that FTSE 100 companies should aim for 25 per cent female board member representation by 2015.

The government-commissioned report, Women on Boards, published last week by Lord Davies of Abersoch, also recommended that FTSE 350 companies should set their own, challenging targets for 2013 and 2015 to ensure that more women get the top jobs.

Lord Davies also called on the chairs of companies to announce these goals in the next six months and chief executives to review the percentage of women they aim to have on their executive committees by 2013 and 2015.

As part of the report Lord Davies and his panel stated that companies should fully disclose the number of women sitting on their boards and working in their organisations as a whole, to drive up the numbers of women with top jobs in business.

The report also calls on The Financial Reporting Council to amend the UK Corporate Governance Code to require listed companies to establish a policy concerning boardroom diversity. This should include how they would implement a diversity policy and provide an annual summary of the progress they have made.

In his report Lord Davies also recommended that:

  • Investors should pay close attention to the recommendations from the report when considering re-appointments to a company board
  • Companies should periodically advertise non-executive board positions to encourage greater diversity in applications
  • Headhunting firms should draw up a voluntary code of practice addressing gender diversity in relation to board level appointments to FTSE 350 companies.

 

Lord Davies was asked by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Minister for Women Theresa May in August last year to carry out a review into the barriers to increasing the number of women on the boards of UK companies.

The review panel received more than 2,600 responses to the call for evidence which closed in December 2010.

To download the report, go to: http://www.bis.gov.uk.