In February 2011 the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) published an independent review into female representation on UK corporate boards by Lord Davies of Abersoch.
On 6 August 2010 the BIS issued a press release announcing that Lord Davies of Abersoch had been asked to build on the work carried out by Professor Laura Tyson in her 2003 report.
Lord Davies' independent review into female representation on UK corporate boards was published by BIS on 24 February 2011 as announced in the press release FTSE 100 companies should aim for 25% women board members – Lord Davies recommends.
The recommendations include that FTSE 100 companies should be aiming for a minimum of 25% female board member representation by 2015; quoted companies should disclose annually the proportion of women on the board, in senior executive positions and in the whole organisation; and the UK Corporate Governance Code should be amended by the FRC to require listed companies to establish a policy concerning boardroom diversity.
The review
Women on boards (PDF 1.9mb/44 pages)
Online articles
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Useful links
Women on boards: First annual progress report (PDF 1.bmb/20 pages)
On 13 March 2012 Lord Davies of Abersoch published a report on the progress made in the year since the first report was published, as announced in the press release Women on boards: One-year-on. The publication reports 'a growing recognition of the benefits gained by business, the economy and society by appointing more women to decision-making roles'.
Women on boards: Six months monitoring report (PDF 7.85mb/40 pages)
Interim report by the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders published in October 2011 which analyses the progress in improving UK boardroom diversity following the Davies report.
Feedback statement: Gender diversity on boards (PDF 246kb/12 pages)
In October 2011 the FRC announced its decision to amend the UK Corpoarate 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.
The changes 'will be incorporated in an updated version of the Code to be published in 2012, following consultation on proposed changes to other parts of the Code, which will apply to financial years beginning on or after 1 October 2012', although the FRC strongly encourages early adoption of its recommendations.
Gender diversity on boards (PDF 127kb/14pages)
Consultation paper published by the FRC in May 2011 which invites views on whether the UK Corporate Governance Code should be revised in order to help achieve more diverse and effective boards. The consultation document was announced in the press release Financial Reporting Council consults on boardroom diversity on 5 May 2011.
Increasing diversity on boards
Research published by the Government Equalities Office (GEO) in 2009 on diversity on boards of directors in the public and private sector. Examines why are there so few women and other under-represented groups on boards and what is being done to increase diversity.
Building better boards
Document published in 2004 by the then Department of Trade and Industry with recommendations for improvements and information relevant to creating more diverse and effective boards.
See also
The Library & Information Service provides an extensive collection of links to resources on women in the boardroom and a dedicated page on boardroom diversity for the Non-Executive Directors Group.
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