FCA figures show improved gender diversity in Britain’s banks

Figures from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have shown an improvement in gender diversity amongst the UK’s biggest banks, with 28 per cent of senior executives being female.

The figures were analysed by DHR International and show that the number of female directors has increased by 1.5 per cent since 2015.

Targets

According to DHR International, diversity targets have helped Britain’s banks to improve the proportion of women in senior roles.

However, the Women in Finance Charter could result in businesses feeling more pressure to improve gender diversity.

The charter aims to boost the number of females in leadership positions. Over 140 businesses have now signed up, with 25 new businesses added this year.

More than a quarter of these companies up have committed to an equal split in senior roles and set a date for achieving their targets.

Success

DHR International London Managing Partner Simon Mansfield said that the percentage of women on the boards of the largest banks is significantly higher than the rest of Britain’s banks and building societies, which suggests that companies which have been placed under the spotlight are starting to improve.

He added that initiatives to improve gender diversity, such as putting in place quotas or employing an external search agency, have been successful and other companies may therefore start adopting these practices.