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Board diversity links

Practical guidance and other information from external websites

Guidance Reports - UK Reports - international and global Surveys, statistics and indexes Organisations, networks and forums See also

Guidance

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European Women on Boards
  • Mar 2021
  • European Women On Boards
Founded in 2013 EWOB 'directly supports the European Commission in achieving the targets set by the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025' and is committed to help corporations make the change by developing talents and skills of senior businesswomen. EWOB publishes the Gender diversity index.
Gender diversity in the boardroom: reach for the top
  • Feb 2015
  • Chartered Institute of Professional Development
Survey report from the CIPD, published in February 2015, highlighting some of the key benefits of having a good gender balance on boards, such as bringing different perspectives to decision-making, reflecting the wider diversity in society and improving business performance. This report explores HR practitioners’ perspectives on gender diversity in the boardroom and practical strategies for improving female representation at the top of organisations.
ICGN guidance on diversity on boards
  • Jan 2016
  • International Corporate Governance Network
Best practice guidance for promoting board diversity 'to enhance effectiveness in driving long-term corporate sustainability'
Displaying 1-3 of 3 results

Reports - UK

Displaying 1-25 of 25 results
Board composition and refresh
  • Jan 2015
  • SpencerStuart
  • SpencerStuart
Julie Daum talks to NACD BoardVision about trends in board composition, director tenure and diversity, based on findings from the 2014 Spencer Stuart Board Index. She also reports on shareholders' views on board succession.
Board diversity and efffectiveness in FT350 companies
  • Jul 2021
  • Financial Reporting Council
Research by The FRC and the London Business School designed to both understand the implications of changes in board diversity in response to the Davies Review, Hampton-Alexander review and the Parker Review and to look forward, to suggest how they can be accelerated. The report was launched with the press release Diverse boards lead to better corporate culture and performance
Board diversity reporting
  • Sep 2018
  • Financial Reporting Council
This FRC report assesses the current extent and manner of reporting by FTSE 350 companies on diversity at board and senior management levels in their annual reports.
Board diversity reporting
  • Sep 2018
  • Financial Reporting Council
Board Diversity Reporting in 2018 provides a snap shot of diversity reporting across the FTSE 350 and identifies examples that lead the way in terms of quality and approach. Only 15% of FTSE 100 companies fully complied with the UK Corporate Governance code's provision on diversity reporting.
Diversity in the boardroom: A guide for business and board-ready candidates in the UK
  • Apr 2010
  • Government Equalities Office/CBI
Report jointly published in April 2010 by the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the CBI. The report highlights some of the initiatives which exist in the UK to improve boardroom diversity.
Diversity, equity and incusion
  • Sep 2020
  • Deloitte
Survey from Deloitte's Board Practices Quarterly, exploring ways in which companies and boards have responded to these recent events involving systemic racism and racial equality, and other management- and board- focused practices pertaining to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI).
Ethnic diversity of UK boards: the Parker review
  • Apr 2024
  • Ernst & Young
Independent review by Sir John Parker, considering how to improve the ethnic and cultural diversity of UK boards to better reflect their employee base and the communities they serve. First published in 2017 and updated regularly since. Site includes an archive of previous reports and the current (2024) report
Feedback statement: Gender diversity on boards
  • Oct 2011
  • Financial reporting Council
In October 2011 the FRC announced its decision to amend the UK Corporate Governance Code to strengthen the principle on boardroom diversity which was first introduced into the Code in June 2010. The statement summarises the main points from the consultation responses, the decisions taken by the FRC and the reasons for those decisions.
FTSE Women Leaders Review
  • Mar 2024
  • FTSE Women Leaders
Successor report to the Hampton-Alexander Review and the Davies Reviews. Reports on progress for women serving on boards, and for women in the two senior management layers below the board in 400 companies.
Gender diversity in the boardroom: reach for the top
  • Feb 2015
  • Chartered Institute of Professional Development
Survey report from the CIPD, published in February 2015, highlighting some of the key benefits of having a good gender balance on boards, such as bringing different perspectives to decision-making, reflecting the wider diversity in society and improving business performance. This report explores HR practitioners’ perspectives on gender diversity in the boardroom and practical strategies for improving female representation at the top of organisations.
Gender diversity on boards: The appointment process and the role of executive search firms
  • May 2012
  • Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission
Research report commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and researched by the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders. The report examines the board appointment process and the role of executive search firms within in with a particular emphasis on initiatives to make boards more gender balanced. The EHRC website also has a guide to Good Practice for Diversity on Boards, updated November 2016.
Hampton Alexander-Review
  • Nov 2019
  • Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
  • HM Government
Reports of the Hampton-Alexander review into increasing the number of women in senior positions in FTSE 350 companies. This review looked at ways to ensure to that talented women at the top of business are recognised, promoted and rewarded. The focus of the review is on both senior women below the company board and increased female representation on FTSE boards..
Mind the gender gap: Are boards rising to the diversity challenge?
  • Jul 2013
  • Warren Partners
Survey report of a sample of ICAEW members carried out by executive search firm Warren Partners highlighting trends and opinion.
Navigating barriers to senior leadership for people from minority ethnic groups in FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies
  • Oct 2022
  • Cranfield University
  • Financial Reporting Council
Commissioned by the FRC and conducted by a research team from Cranfield University and Delta Alpha Psi Services, this research looks at the challenges and opportunities that minority ethnic individuals might experience in progressing to the boards of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies.
Report on board effectiveness: Highlighting best practice, encouraging progress
  • Sep 2011
  • Association of British Insurers
In September 2011 the Association of British Insurers (ABI) published its report on board effectiveness. The report focuses on three key issues, with one being boardroom diversity, and aims to 'help companies to better understand the views of institutional investors on effective boardroom performance'. The report includes the results of analysis of FTSE 350 annual reports to examine what companies are doing to improve diversity in their boardrooms and across their whole organisations.
The commercial advantage of more women in the boardroom
  • Jun 2016
  • Elixrr/Women in Retail
Study by Women in Retail and Elixirr looking at gender balance within the UK retail sector.
The Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre (GLIC)
  • Mar 2022
  • Cranfield School of Management
  • Cranfield School of Management
The GLIC is a research community which collaborates with industry and produces high quality research in the areas of gender, leadership and inclusion at work. The centre, which is part of Cranfield University's School of Management, is responsible for an annual benchmarking report, The Female FTSE Board Report which has been published since 1999 and includes details of the number of female directors on FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 boards. The website provides information on the work of the centre, its research projects and published research papers.
Tyson report on the recruitment and development of non-executive directors
  • Jun 2003
  • London Business School
Report from a group of business leaders and commissioned by the then Department of Trade and Industry, following up on recommendations from the Higgs report. The report looks at how 'companies might draw on broader pools of talent with varied and complementary skills, experiences and perspectives to enhance board effectiveness'.
UK Board Index: Current board trends and practices at major UK companies
  • Oct 2020
  • Spencer Stuart
Comprehensive review of governance practice in the largest 150 companies in the FTSE rankings, published by Spencer Stuart annually indicating of the state of boardroom health during. The report places particular importance on the theme of diversity – in addition to gender and nationality, the dimensions of age and ethnicity are explored.
Women in finance charter
  • Mar 2016
  • HM Treasury
The charter sets out the commitment of HM Treasury and signatory firms to work together to build a more balanced and fair finance industry. It was drawn up in March 2016, based on the findings of a review by the CEO of Virgin Money and pledges to implement four key industry actions. There is also a timeline of the Charter's achievements in its first year.
Women in finance: A springboard to corporate board positions?
  • Oct 2012
  • ACCA
This report, commissioned by ACCA and the Economic & Social Research Council and published by ACCA in December 2012, explores the role of a financial background or qualification in FTSE 100 board appointments for women.
Women in the City
  • Mar 2010
  • Treasury Select Committee
  • HM Government
Report published by the Treasury Select Committee following an inquiry into the representation of women at senior levels within large financial institutions in the UK. You can also access responses to the report from the UK Government and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Women on boards reports
  • Oct 2015
  • HM Government
Government hub page for reports relating to Lord Davies of Abersoch's Women on Boards review (published 2011), including the annual review and 5 year summary. See also our page on Women on Boards for further background and information.
Women on Boards: A Life Sciences' Perspective (RSA)
  • Jul 2012
  • RSA Group
A survey of senior executives in the UK Life Sciences industry commissioned by the RSA which provides data on the gender imbalance in the boardrooms of UK Life Sciences companies and explores what might be done to improve the situation. The study also aims to find out whether the Life Sciences industry is a more favourable environment for women to progress to the most senior positions.
Women on boards: benchmarking early adopters of the Corporate Governance Code 2012
  • Nov 2012
  • Cranfield University School of Management
Interim report published by Cranfield School of Management in November 2012 which monitors the progress of FTSE 100 companies on the diversity amendment made to the UK Corporate Governance Code and provides a benchmark of best practice based on early adopters of the revised Code.
Displaying 1-25 of 25 results

Reports - international

Displaying 1-17 of 17 results
Breaking the glass ceiling: Women in the boardroom
  • Aug 2018
  • Paul Hastings
The fifth edition of this report by Paul Hastings LLP provides updates to 41 jurisdictions with notable developments over the past 12 months. It aims to provide a comprehensive, global survey of how different countries are addressing the issue of gender parity on corporate boards.
Diverse abilities: Leveraging all abilities to build high-performing organizations
  • May 2016
  • Ernst & Young
Report from the first EY Diverse Abilities Leadership Summit, in December 2014, where company leaders discussed new thinking and practices to help leverage diverse abilities to create high-performing organisations. The report captures some of the key ideas and themes that emerged from the summit.
Diversity drives diversity: from the boardroom to the C-suite
  • Nov 2013
  • Ernst & Young
A 2013 Ernst & Young report focusing on diversity in boardrooms of US companies at the time of their 2013 annual meetings, with some comparisons of diversity across industry sectors. It also explores the impact female directors and leaders are having on diversity.
European Women on Boards
  • Mar 2021
  • European Women On Boards
Founded in 2013 EWOB 'directly supports the European Commission in achieving the targets set by the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025' and is committed to help corporations make the change by developing talents and skills of senior businesswomen. EWOB publishes the Gender diversity index.
Gender diversity on boards: The appointment process and the role of executive search firms
  • May 2012
  • Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission
Research report commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and researched by the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders. The report examines the board appointment process and the role of executive search firms within in with a particular emphasis on initiatives to make boards more gender balanced. The EHRC website also has a guide to Good Practice for Diversity on Boards, updated November 2016.
Gender equality
  • Jan 2017
  • McKinsey & Company
Series of reports regularly published by McKinsey Global Institute since 2007. The reports in this series explore how gender diversity and leadership styles typically adopted by women leaders impact on company performance and report on developments to increase female representation in senior positions.
Global Board Ready Women
  • Mar 2021
  • LinkedIn
Linked-In group - movement started by the European Business Schools/Women on Board Taskforce, which maintains a list of suitable board-qualified women for companies in Europe & the world.' which it makes available to executive search firms and those making board appointments.
ICGN guidance on diversity on boards
  • Jan 2016
  • International Corporate Governance Network
Best practice guidance for promoting board diversity 'to enhance effectiveness in driving long-term corporate sustainability'
Involve
  • Mar 2021
  • INvolve
Global network and consultancy championing diversity and inclusion in business.
Professional Women's Network
  • Mar 2021
  • PWN Global
A global network 'of people accelerating gender balanced leadership in business and society'
WOB Boardroom Gender Diversity Index (BGDI)
  • Mar 2020
  • Women on Boards
This annual survey, published by Women on Boards since 2010, is the 'first comprehensive publicly available data measuring female participation on the boards of organisations in Australia'.
Women in business
  • Mar 2019
  • Grant Thornton International
  • Grant Thornton International
Annual report from Grant Thornton bringing together findings on the participation of women in senior leadership in businesses globally. Insights and recommended actions which business leaders can take to increase gender diversity in their businesses are also provided.
Women in Business 2020
  • Mar 2020
  • Grant Thornton
International business report from Grant Thornton, examining why a third of businesses still have no women at senior management level. It examines diversity in leadership in a number of countries around the world, the types of roles occupied by women and the qualities required for leadership. It also offers some recommendations for improving gender diversity in leadership.
Women in Financial Services
  • Nov 2019
  • Oliver Wyman
Report by management consulting firm Oliver Wyman on gender diversity in the global financial services industry. The 2016 report and 2014 report are also available.
Women in the boardroom: a global perpective
  • Nov 2019
  • Global Centre for Corporate Governance
  • Deloitte
Sixth edition of the report by the Deloitte Global Centre for Corporate Governance, first published in 2011 and last updated in 2019, giving an overview of current initiatives around the world to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards.
Women on board: the Norwegian experience
  • Jun 2010
  • Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Report by the German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung which documents the introduction of a quota for female board representation in Norway. The report looks at how the quota came into being and which changes it has set in motion since its introduction in 2003.
Women on Boards: Commission proposes 40% objective
  • Nov 2012
  • European Commission
This collection of reports and factsheets including country specific information was published by the European Commission in November 2012 in support of its proposed legislation to establish a 40% quota for female board members in publicly listed companies.
Displaying 1-17 of 17 results

Surveys, statistics and indexes

Displaying 1-13 of 13 results
Board composition and refresh
  • Jan 2015
  • SpencerStuart
Julie Daum talks to NACD BoardVision about trends in board composition, director tenure and diversity, based on findings from the 2014 Spencer Stuart Board Index. She also reports on shareholders' views on board succession.
Board diversity reporting
  • Sep 2018
  • Financial Reporting Council
Board Diversity Reporting in 2018 provides a snap shot of diversity reporting across the FTSE 350 and identifies examples that lead the way in terms of quality and approach. Only 15% of FTSE 100 companies fully complied with the UK Corporate Governance code's provision on diversity reporting.
Breaking the glass ceiling: Women in the boardroom
  • Aug 2018
  • Paul Hastings
The fifth edition of this report by Paul Hastings LLP provides updates to 41 jurisdictions with notable developments over the past 12 months. It aims to provide a comprehensive, global survey of how different countries are addressing the issue of gender parity on corporate boards.
Diversity, equity and incusion
  • Sep 2020
  • Deloitte
Survey from Deloitte's Board Practices Quarterly, exploring ways in which companies and boards have responded to these recent events involving systemic racism and racial equality, and other management- and board- focused practices pertaining to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI).
European Women on Boards
  • Mar 2021
  • European Women On Boards
Founded in 2013 EWOB 'directly supports the European Commission in achieving the targets set by the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025' and is committed to help corporations make the change by developing talents and skills of senior businesswomen. EWOB publishes the Gender diversity index.
Female FTSE Board report 2020
  • Sep 2020
  • Cranfield University
Annual benchmarking report by the Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre at Cranfield University, which has been published since 1999 and includes details of the number of female non-executive directors on the corporate boards of the UK's top 100 companies
Gender diversity in the boardroom: reach for the top
  • Feb 2015
  • Chartered Institute of Professional Development
Survey report from the CIPD, published in February 2015, highlighting some of the key benefits of having a good gender balance on boards, such as bringing different perspectives to decision-making, reflecting the wider diversity in society and improving business performance. This report explores HR practitioners’ perspectives on gender diversity in the boardroom and practical strategies for improving female representation at the top of organisations.
Mind the gender gap: Are boards rising to the diversity challenge?
  • Jul 2013
  • Warren Partners
Survey report of a sample of ICAEW members carried out by executive search firm Warren Partners highlighting trends and opinion.
The gender diversity index 2020
  • Jun 2020
  • European Women on Boards
This index was developed by EWoB to allow companies to benchmark themselves against other companies in their country or sector with regard to the diversity of their boards and other key positions. Covers 18 European countries including the UK.
UK Board Index: Current board trends and practices at major UK companies
  • Oct 2020
  • Spencer Stuart
Comprehensive review of governance practice in the largest 150 companies in the FTSE rankings, published by Spencer Stuart annually indicating of the state of boardroom health during. The report places particular importance on the theme of diversity – in addition to gender and nationality, the dimensions of age and ethnicity are explored.
WOB Boardroom Gender Diversity Index (BGDI)
  • Mar 2020
  • Women on Boards
This annual survey, published by Women on Boards since 2010, is the 'first comprehensive publicly available data measuring female participation on the boards of organisations in Australia'.
Women on Boards: A Life Sciences' Perspective (RSA)
  • Jul 2012
  • RSA Group
A survey of senior executives in the UK Life Sciences industry commissioned by the RSA which provides data on the gender imbalance in the boardrooms of UK Life Sciences companies and explores what might be done to improve the situation. The study also aims to find out whether the Life Sciences industry is a more favourable environment for women to progress to the most senior positions.
Women on corporate boards globally
  • Dec 2018
  • Catalyst
Annual statistics on female board representation across the globe published by Catalyst.
Displaying 1-13 of 13 results

Organisations, networks and forums

Displaying 1-10 of 10 results
European Women on Boards
  • Mar 2021
  • European Women On Boards
Founded in 2013 EWOB 'directly supports the European Commission in achieving the targets set by the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025' and is committed to help corporations make the change by developing talents and skills of senior businesswomen. EWOB publishes the Gender diversity index.
Global Board Ready Women
  • Mar 2021
  • LinkedIn
Linked-In group - movement started by the European Business Schools/Women on Board Taskforce, which maintains a list of suitable board-qualified women for companies in Europe & the world.' which it makes available to executive search firms and those making board appointments.
Involve
  • Mar 2021
  • INvolve
Global network and consultancy championing diversity and inclusion in business.
OUTstanding in business
  • Mar 2021
  • Outstanding Executives
A professional network  for LGBT executives. produces the Top 100 OUTstanding in business list.
Professional Boards Forum
  • Mar 2021
  • Professional Boards Forum
Programme bringing together leading chairmen and outstanding women board candidates for board opportunities. The Forum publishes regularly updated figures of female directors appointed to UK corporate boards.
Professional Women's Network
  • Mar 2021
  • PWN Global
A global network 'of people accelerating gender balanced leadership in business and society'
The 30% club
  • May 2018
  • 30% Club
A group of chairs and organisations committed to bringing more women onto UK corporate boards. The initiative aims to have at least 30% women on UK PLC boards within five years.
The Mentoring Foundation
  • Mar 2021
  • The Mentoring Foundation
The foundation develops and manages the FTSE 100 Cross-Company Mentoring Programme, a mentoring programme for senior women executives who are matched with senior business leaders to develop and fulfil their potential.
Tyson report on the recruitment and development of non-executive directors
  • Jun 2003
  • London Business School
Report from a group of business leaders and commissioned by the then Department of Trade and Industry, following up on recommendations from the Higgs report. The report looks at how 'companies might draw on broader pools of talent with varied and complementary skills, experiences and perspectives to enhance board effectiveness'.
Women on board: the Norwegian experience
  • Jun 2010
  • Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Report by the German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung which documents the introduction of a quota for female board representation in Norway. The report looks at how the quota came into being and which changes it has set in motion since its introduction in 2003.
Displaying 1-10 of 10 results

Further corporate governance organisations

See also

  • Diversity & Inclusion articles, books and online resources on making a workplace more diverse and inclusive to the people work work in it
  • Women in business selection of links and further resources on gender diversity in business.
  • Women on boards articles and reports on Lord Davies' review into female representation on UK corporate boards.
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