The Conservative Women’s Forum is today publishing its report “Executive Women in the Workplace Inquiry: Building the Executive Pipeline of Talent”.

Despite the robust business case for gender diversity and overall increases in the number of women on boards, the numbers of senior executive women in the FTSE 100 are falling. This Inquiry put the spotlight on how to tackle this challenge.

The report outlines how CEOs and boards should measure detailed data about their pipelines and set clear objectives to drive gender diversity at all levels.  Executive women can also take responsibility for actively planning their careers and for seeking out the sponsors and mentors to support their progress.  Action should be business-led but the Government can also encourage progress by continuing to build the supportive environment, such as by improving careers advice to close the gender skills gap.

Commenting on the report, co-author Dr Thérèse Coffey said: “Since the Lord Davies report there has been good progress in getting more women on boards.  The key challenge now is to increase the number of female executive directors.  There are just 3 female FTSE 100 CEOs and the percentage of senior female executives running the UK’s top companies day-to-day is actually lower than in 2007.”

Therese added: “There is strong evidence that having more women in senior management improves a company’s financial returns, corporate governance and decision-making.  As women are the key consumers in society, businesses without executive women are losing their connection with their market.  UK companies simply cannot afford not to make the most of their female talent.”

Mary Macleod MP, co-author and chairman of the Forum, said of the report: “During our Inquiry, we heard from many senior business leaders, all keen to ensure that talented women make it through to the executive ranks.  A fundamental starting point is to measure the female talent pipeline at all levels, with committed leadership to meeting future targets.  It is clear that we need to broaden this debate beyond board level and beyond the FTSE to make the changes we need for the next generation of women.”

She added: “The focus must start in schools and universities.  We need businesses to play a leading role in shaping the career aspirations of young women.  We want girls to keep their options open when choosing which subjects to study and consider a broader range of career options.  This report also offers practical, tangible advice to women already in business aspiring to executive positions, including seeking out sponsors and taking on ‘stretch’ assignments early in their career.  I am optimistic for the future for women in business – we have a wealth of female talent in this country and if we continue to share what works we can go much further in maximising the contribution they can make.”

The full report may be read here:

http://executivewomenintheworkplace.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/executive-women-in-the-workplace-inquiry-report.pdf