Page Executive Signs Up to Women on Boards Voluntary Code of Conduct

In 2012 PageGroup launched Women @ Page to help us achieve better gender diversity across all levels of our global business. The aim was, and continues to be to create an inclusive working environment by developing the pipeline and retaining female talent in our business.

Since we launched Women @ Page, we have made great progress and seen many successes that we are extremely proud of.  In mid-2014, PageGroup received 'Highly Commended' for the 'Working Families Award' and won the 'Global Diversity Award' category at the 2014 Enei Awards. At the Top Employers for Working Families Awards, PageGroup won the ‘commended’ award in the ‘Best for all stages of motherhood’ category and received a special mention for doing groundbreaking work in the sector.

Ruby McGregor-Smith, senior independent director at PageGroup says “Women @ Page is already helping mothers balance work and family life by offering flexible working and new opportunities. I am proud of my involvement in Women @ Page...”

The 30% Club Voluntary Code of Conduct

As part of our commitment to gender equality in the workforce and the Women @ Page initiative, PageGroup signed up to the 30% Club Voluntary Code of Conduct for Executive Search Firms in October 2013.This is a voluntary, currently self-regulated code which is relevant to all recruitment firms active in senior level recruitment.

The 30% Club was created in 2010 by Helena Morrissey, CEO of Newton Investment Management, to address the lack of momentum around improving the gender balance at senior levels in business. Executive search firms commit to supporting FTSE 350 companies to create more diverse boards and it continues to have a positive impact on the appointment of women into board positions. The aim of the 30% Club and the Voluntary Code is to raise the percentage of women on corporate boards to at least 30% by 2015. Research shows that when a group of people reaches 30% of the whole, that group has the critical mass necessary to exert real influence.

We are one of 72 recruitment firms who have stepped up and become signatories and our chairman, Robin Buchanan, has himself become one of the 30% Club Chairs who are working to fulfil the goals of the 30% Club. 

To become a signatory to the Code, Page Executive has committed to:

• Review provisions of the Code and assess its scope and relevance
• Enlist support of the Board and senior partners within the firm to adopt the Code
• Evaluate PageGroup’s current practices and determining action plans to enhance processes and practice where they fall short of Code provisions
• Communicate support for the Code widely within PageGroup as well as externally
• Set targets for progress, monitoring and reporting on progress internally

Lucia Knight, business director, CFO practice at Page Executive says, “It’s great to see board enhancements around gender balance so high on the commercial agenda at PageGroup.  For our CFO practice, uncovering female CFOs has been a key focus for some time.”