Who are the top companies hiring women in leadership roles?
Although the amount of women in leadership roles continues to grow, with Business Chief reporting 21 women were made CEOs in July 2022 alone, there persists to be a lack of female representation in the boardroom.
Research has recently shown that companies that had more female executives reaped the rewards, with an increase in revenue growth and share price. It highlights the important role women have on the director’s board and the impact this can have on profits.
To explore this further, SmallBusinessPrices.co.uk have created a leaderboard of UK companies, to explore the businesses with the smallest and largest amount of female board members.
They did this by analysing data from The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100 Index) and The Financial Times Stock Exchange 250 Index (FTSE 250 Index).
FTSE 100 – The top companies hiring female board members
Through analysis of companies through the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 Index, it’s possible to examine the top companies employing the most women in leadership positions.
The FTSE Index is a collated list of global companies, the Index has been rebranded as FTSE Russell but is wholly owned by the London Stock Exchange Group.
Analysing the FTSE 100 Index, the top ten companies with the highest percentage of women in leadership roles were:
- Diageo PLC (60%)
- Auto Trader Group (55.6%)
- Burberry Group PLC (54.5%)
- Admiral Group PLC (54.5%)
- Rightmove PLC (50%)
- Halma PLC (50%)
- Severn Trent PLC (50%)
- London Stock Exchange Group (46.2%)
- ITV PLC (45.5%)
- Melrose Industries PLC (45.5%)
It was intriguing to see seven of the top ten companies hiring women in leadership positions had at least 50% of the roles filled by women.
Diageo PLC topped the list, with 60% of their leadership roles filled by female employees. Diageo is a giant in the beverage industry and is responsible for popular drinks such as Guinness and Baileys.
Making up the top three is automotive business Auto Trader Group with 55.6% and luxury fashion brand Burberry Group PLC with 54.5%.
FTSE 250 – The top companies hiring the lowest amount of women in leadership roles
Additionally, SmallBusinessPrices.co.uk analysed the top 25 companies in the FTSE 250 Index with the lowest percentage of female employees in leadership roles. They were:
- Vivo Energy PLC (22.2%)
- CMC Markets PLC (25%)
- Renishaw PLC (25%)
- Carnival PLC (25%)
- Balfour Beatty PLC (25%)
- Bodycote PLC (25%)
- Homeserve PLC (27.3%)
- Helios Towers PLC (27.3%)
- Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (27.3%)
- Wizz Air Holdings (27.3%)
Companies with the lowest amount of female employees in leadership positions scored lower in the FTSE report for categories such as; senior management, culture and values, diversity and inclusion and career opportunities.
The company with the lowest number of women in leadership roles was the petroleum business Vivo Energy PLC with 22.2%. The petrol company operates in 23 different countries around the world but ranks with the least amount of women leaders.
CMC Markets PLC, a trading company, ranked second with one-quarter of its leadership roles filled by women. Renishaw PLC, an English engineering company, was amongst other companies also reporting 25%.
There is a pay gap that exists within both the top 25 and bottom 25 FTSE 250 companies. However, the gap in pay between genders for the top 25 is 12% compared to 23% for the bottom 25 businesses, this suggests that more women in leadership positions can reduce the pay gap existent within corporations.
Overall, we hope this article has informed you of the companies hiring the highest and lowest number of women in leadership positions.
Through analysing data available through The Financial Stock Exchange Index, we were also able to highlight the increased pay gap existent in companies with a lower amount of female directors.
