November 2008 - Are Women Making Progress?

Women are making glacially slow progress, according to both Angela Mason and Ruth Sealy, respectively Chair of the Fawcett Society and researcher at Cranfield University, speaking to CWN on 27th November.

Angela gave us a short history of the Fawcett Society, started in 1866, and its current campaign on Sexism in the City. Acknowledging her own shock on learning that City workers patronised lap dancing clubs, she covered a number of other women’s issues before challenging companies to join Barclays Wealth and BT in signing up to Fawcett’s charter.

Ruth Sealy, a CWN member, outlined the findings of The Female FTSE Report 2008, which is tellingly entitled “A Decade of Delay”. Women account for only 11.7% of the directors of FTSE 100 companies, just ahead of last year’s 11.0% and up from 6.9% ten years ago. Women still account for only 4.8% of executive directors on boards.

Craig Jones, Head of Diversity at Barclays Wealth, our generous host for the evening, concluded by restating the commercial case for change: the minority of Barclays Wealth’s clients are straight white men, he said. Discussion continued over drinks and canapés, while we enjoyed one of the best night views in London from Barclays Wealth’s stunning atrium.