Menu
25/02/2011
Few Women Filling Top NI Business Posts
News that lady directors account for only 12.5% of all those in UK businesses has been greeted with disappointment in NI - and a claim that only 4% of company bosses in NI are women.
"In a locally produced Top 100 companies for Northern Ireland, just four have a women at the helm," said Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive of Women in Business Northern Ireland, as she responded to the research from Cranfield University.
It has highlighted a lack of female directors in Britain's top businesses, with women making up only 12.5% of directors if the FTSE 100 companies in 2010.
It showed that the FTSE 250 companies have even lower proportion of female directors at 7.8%, and nearly half of them do not have any women in the boardroom.
Launching his independent review into Women on Boards, Lord Davies of Abersoch said this week that he had recommended that FTSE 350 companies should be setting their own challenging targets and expects that many will achieve a much higher figure than this minimum.
He said they should be aiming for a minimum of 25% female board member representation by 2015, and also called upon the Financial Reporting Council to amend the UK Corporate Governance Code to require listed companies to establish a policy concerning boardroom diversity.
Commenting on the report, Nl's Roseann Kelly, continued: "While we welcome this new Code of Conduct and the start of this process, we are disappointed that it was necessary to take these measures to allow women to gain the recognition they deserve.
"It is also disappointing to note that the target of a minimum of 25% female representation by 2015 on FTSE 100 boards was not more challenging, given that the expectation is that of a higher figure.
"Women account for approximately half of the population, yet they are grossly under-represented in the boardroom and in key company positions.
"We need to see an end of single gender boardrooms and recognise the experience and knowledge which women can contribute to any organisation.
"This is not about equality, it is a business case where boards including women are more profitable," she said.
"If you look at our parliamentary system, only 13% are women, the lowest figure across Europe - even Iraq has a higher percentage of women in Government," she said.
"Companies have been left to their own devices and now it is time to redress the boardroom balance in line with our European counterparts," the Women in Business Northern Ireland boss concluded.
See: Women Remain Minority In FTSE 100, Says Report
(BMcC)
"In a locally produced Top 100 companies for Northern Ireland, just four have a women at the helm," said Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive of Women in Business Northern Ireland, as she responded to the research from Cranfield University.
It has highlighted a lack of female directors in Britain's top businesses, with women making up only 12.5% of directors if the FTSE 100 companies in 2010.
It showed that the FTSE 250 companies have even lower proportion of female directors at 7.8%, and nearly half of them do not have any women in the boardroom.
Launching his independent review into Women on Boards, Lord Davies of Abersoch said this week that he had recommended that FTSE 350 companies should be setting their own challenging targets and expects that many will achieve a much higher figure than this minimum.
He said they should be aiming for a minimum of 25% female board member representation by 2015, and also called upon the Financial Reporting Council to amend the UK Corporate Governance Code to require listed companies to establish a policy concerning boardroom diversity.
Commenting on the report, Nl's Roseann Kelly, continued: "While we welcome this new Code of Conduct and the start of this process, we are disappointed that it was necessary to take these measures to allow women to gain the recognition they deserve.
"It is also disappointing to note that the target of a minimum of 25% female representation by 2015 on FTSE 100 boards was not more challenging, given that the expectation is that of a higher figure.
"Women account for approximately half of the population, yet they are grossly under-represented in the boardroom and in key company positions.
"We need to see an end of single gender boardrooms and recognise the experience and knowledge which women can contribute to any organisation.
"This is not about equality, it is a business case where boards including women are more profitable," she said.
"If you look at our parliamentary system, only 13% are women, the lowest figure across Europe - even Iraq has a higher percentage of women in Government," she said.
"Companies have been left to their own devices and now it is time to redress the boardroom balance in line with our European counterparts," the Women in Business Northern Ireland boss concluded.
See: Women Remain Minority In FTSE 100, Says Report
(BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
11 November 2003
Record number of women on FTSE boards
The number of female directorships in the FTSE 100 has topped 100 for the first time, according to new research.
Record number of women on FTSE boards
The number of female directorships in the FTSE 100 has topped 100 for the first time, according to new research.
26 April 2002
Nationwide search for top businesswomen
A national search for Britain's top women entrepreneurs has been launched this week by T-Mobile and the Sunday Express. The Women Mean Business Awards follows news that the number of women now running their own business has rocketed to nearly one million while more than half of the female workforce is now self-employed.
Nationwide search for top businesswomen
A national search for Britain's top women entrepreneurs has been launched this week by T-Mobile and the Sunday Express. The Women Mean Business Awards follows news that the number of women now running their own business has rocketed to nearly one million while more than half of the female workforce is now self-employed.
16 November 2005
Women key to boosting entrepreneurship
The benefits of getting more women to take up entrepreneurship are clear according to DTI Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn. At the moment, women-owned businesses contribute about £70 billion to Gross Value Added, about 25% of the UK total, mainly from the growing service sector. Nearly a million women are self-employed today in the UK.
Women key to boosting entrepreneurship
The benefits of getting more women to take up entrepreneurship are clear according to DTI Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn. At the moment, women-owned businesses contribute about £70 billion to Gross Value Added, about 25% of the UK total, mainly from the growing service sector. Nearly a million women are self-employed today in the UK.
10 June 2016
First Minister Attends Women In Business Chairs' Lunch
First Minister Arlene Foster has attended the first ever Women in Business Chairs' Lunch at Titanic Belfast. Women in Business promotes entrepreneurship and provides networking opportunities for business women to promote and grow their business. The event was attended by over 200 local business women.
First Minister Attends Women In Business Chairs' Lunch
First Minister Arlene Foster has attended the first ever Women in Business Chairs' Lunch at Titanic Belfast. Women in Business promotes entrepreneurship and provides networking opportunities for business women to promote and grow their business. The event was attended by over 200 local business women.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
