New BritainThinks research shows support for more women in senior positions
For immediate release:
NEW BRITAINTHINKS RESEARCH SHOWS SUPPORT FOR MORE WOMEN IN SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE WORKPLACE – 51% SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT UK BUSINESSES DO MORE - BUT THERE IS RELUCTANCE TO IMPOSE QUOTAS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
51% say that getting more women in senior positions is important – 64% of women agree but only 38% of men. A quarter of under 24s have no opinion, compared with 9% of the population as a whole. Public sector workers are more likely to agree than private sector workers (55%/46%)
Whilst there is strong agreement that childcare responsibilities are the main barrier to women’s ability to reach board level (65%) and that women managers serve women customers better (62%) the most compelling argument overall is that companies should ‘just choose the best person for the job, regardless of gender’ (82%). Few agree that ‘women are less ambitious or career focused than men’ – (net -16%).
The most popular solutions are those that address the perceived roots of the problem: allowing either parent to use maternity leave (64%) and more top level part time and flexible roles (60%) Using quotas is the least popular (37%) although women are more favourable than men (43%/31%)
BritainThinks Director, Deborah Mattinson says: ‘Against a growing backdrop of evidence making the business case for more women in senior positions – and widespread support, there is little appetite for interventions such as enforcing quotas. At present board level representation in FTSE 250 businesses stands at just 7.8% and progress seems slow”
Click here to view the full report.
For further information contact Andrew Bradley on 0207 845 5880 or abradley@britainthinks.com
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Deborah on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme this morning
"This week two European countries, Greece and Italy, installed so-called technocrat governments. Independent columnist Matthew Norman and Deborah Mattinson, director of Britain Thinks, discuss whether Britain would be better run by a similar administration, and who would be in it."
Click here to listen again.
"What I learned from Philip Gould" - Research Magazine
"Deborah Mattinson shares lessons from the life and career of New Labour strategist Philip Gould, a pollster who aimed high and whose work made a difference."
Click here to read the article.
Deborah on BBC Radio 4's Week in Westminster
"Deborah Mattinson of the research agency BritainThinks looks back over the work of the late Labour strategist Lord Gould with Lord Fowler."
Click here to listen again on iPlayer.
"Politics must not be blind to the facts of life" - The Evening Standard
"Not everyone has abandoned empiricism: Andrew Cooper, Cameron's director of strategy, springs to mind, as does (on the Left) Deborah Mattinson."
Click here to read the full article.
"Philip Gould - The Voice Of The Public In Downing Street" - Dale & Co.
Click here to read Deborah's tribute to Philip Gould.
- What was the fallout from the vote on the EU? Watch @debmattinson discussing this and other issues on @daily_politics t.co/waSqOvUNfj