New training scheme to boost women at board level

A new training programme aimed at senior female managers and directors in the hospitality industry who want to secure a board level position has been launched by Women 1st.

The new initiative follows the Government setting a new 25% target of women being appointed to director positions of FTSE 100 companies, by 2015. Currently, the figure is 17.3%.

Sharon Glancy, founder of Women 1st said: "To sustain a talent pipeline it is essential for organisations to provide their senior female managers with robust career training. We worked closely with the IoD to design a training programme that takes into account today's highly competitive business climate.

"For example, we know that topics like strategic and commercial thinking can be abstract and difficult to define, so participants are encouraged to discuss the issues in the context of their own business. This helps them to develop skills that can easily become part of their everyday work."

Simon Walker, director general of the IoD, added: "Diversity is a crucial element of any successful board. Businesses are swiftly realising that greater representation of women in the boardroom means richer insight and better decisions informed by a more diverse range of viewpoints."

According to Women 1st, only 6% of director level positions in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism workforce are female, despite 60% of the total workforce being made up of women.

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