Women now hold 43 percent of board seats across Britain’s top 350 listed companies, marking a dramatic shift from just 9.5 percent in 2011, according to new data from the FTSE Women Leaders Review.
The findings, published on Monday, reveal a decade-long transformation in gender diversity within UK boardrooms, outpacing voluntary efforts in many other major economies.
The increase in female representation has been driven by a concerted push from government-backed initiatives and investor pressure, leading to near parity in non-executive director roles and significant progress in executive positions.
“This milestone underscores how far UK business has come in recognizing the value of diverse leadership,” the report stated. “In 2011, there were 152 all-male boards in the FTSE 350. Today, there are none.”
Women in Executive Roles Still Lagging
The review highlights that nearly three-quarters of all FTSE 350 firms have now met or exceeded the 40 percent target the UK government-backed initiative set.
By comparison, France, which enforces boardroom gender quotas, leads the Group of Seven nations with 45.4 percent female board representation, while Germany and the United States lag behind at 36 percent and 34.6 percent, respectively.
However, despite strong progress in non-executive roles — where women now account for 49.9 percent of FTSE 350 NEDs — the number of women in executive director positions remains markedly lower, at 15.6 percent.
Female CEOs continue to be a rarity, with just 7.3 percent of FTSE 350 chief executives being women.
“We must ensure that this momentum translates into greater representation in top operational roles, not just board oversight positions,” said Penny James, co-chair of the FTSE Women Leaders Review.
The Road Ahead for Gender Diversity
The shift has been largely achieved without mandatory quotas, contrasting with some European nations that enforce gender balance through legislation. Instead, UK firms have responded to voluntary targets and investor scrutiny, demonstrating the impact of a business-led approach to diversity.
While progress has been strong in listed firms, private companies have lagged. The report notes that among the UK’s 50 largest private companies, female board representation stands at just 30.5 percent, with some firms still maintaining all-male boards.
With the UK government and investors continuing to push for change, the next challenge will be sustaining progress and ensuring that women’s increased presence at the board level translates into broader executive leadership opportunities.
