United Kingdom: Latest Parker Review report on ethnic minority representation at senior levels published

In brief

The Parker Review Committee has published its latest report on ethnic minority representation at board level and within senior management at FTSE350 companies, and the 50 largest private companies in the UK. Ethnic minority directors currently represent 19% of FTSE 100 directors, 13.5% of FTSE 250 directors and 11% of relevant private company directors.


Contents

Key takeaways

  • Improving the Ethnic Diversity of UK Business was published in March 2024 and emphasises the importance of focusing on the development of talented senior executives from ethnic minority backgrounds.
  • In 2017, the Parker Review set FTSE 100 companies the target of at least one ethnic minority director on the board by 2021. At the end of 2023, 96% had met this target. The target has since been extended to 2024 for FTSE 250 companies, who like FTSE100 companies are also asked to disclose the percentage of senior management from ethnic minorities, and to set their own targets for what this percentage should be by the end of 2027.
  • 50 of the UK's largest private companies are also covered in the report.
  • The level of ethnic minority representation varies from 46% in London to 7% in the North East.
  • To discuss more about what this issue means for you and your business, get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.

In more detail

As at December 2023, the percentages of companies which had met the targets set by the Parker Review were as follows:

FTSE 100 FTSE 250 Private
Currently meet the target of at least one ethnic minority director on their board (for FTSE100 companies, by 2021; for FTSE250, 2024; for relevant private companies, 2027):
96% 70% 44%
As a proportion of all Board Directorships, ethnic minority directors currently represent:
19% 13.5% 11%
On average in senior management, ethnic minorities currently represent:
13% 12% -
Of the companies that shared their data with the Parker Review, the average target for the proportion of ethnic minority representation in senior management in 2027 is:
17% 15.5% -

 

Contact Information
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London
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