Following the publication of the EHRC’s inquiry into women on boards, enei chief executive Denise Keating comments.

This report has revealed the illusion at the top of the UK’s biggest public companies. We applaud the few organisations who have embraced the Davies recommendations and already appointed a minimum of 25 percent women on their boards, including in executive positions. Unfortunately, as the report shows, these organisations are in the minority, with many doing absolutely nothing to increase the gender diversity on their boards. 

“Most shocking of all is the finding that a number of the UK’s top businessmen have chosen to reduce the size of their boardroom rather than recruit more women to the top. This is really no surprise when the “old boys’ network” is the first and often, the only source for board appointments. It appears that the attitudes entrenched at the top of British business haven’t changed. 

In Norway’s 40 percent quota system the ‘old boys’ network’ has been eliminated and there are harsh penalties for organisations who fail to reach the target. Whilst the British culture is not ready for such a prescriptive approach, we have seen evidence that the naming and shaming of organisations is a strong motivator for change and this is the proposed approach to achievement of eliminating the Gender Pay Gap.”