The EHRC comment that the focus of the project will be on: 

recruitment practices of corporate companies at board level including the use of head hunters in supporting FTSE 350 companies in filling board level appointments, open advertising of positions and the role of Chairs in ensuring more equal, transparent and open practices.  

The project follows calls from the government for companies to “seize the opportunity and increase the number of women in their boardrooms".  Despite latest figures highlighting that the proportion of women on boards continues to increase, there is still a requirement for further appointments in order to achieve 25 per-cent female representation by 2015 as set by Lord Davies in his report in February 2011 (link to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website). 

Amendments to the UK Corporate Governance Code in 2012 require companies to set out clear disclosures on diversity, including gender, any measurable objectives that they have set for implementing the policy, and progress on achieving the objectives.  

Click for:

• EHRC press release (link to EHRC website).
• UK Accounting Plus January news item on women on boards