Parker Review
A Report into the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards: Beyond One by '21
Employment & Work
Independent review examining ethnic and cultural diversity of UK FTSE 350 boards. Set a target for each FTSE 100 company to have at least one director from an ethnic minority background by 2021 and each FTSE 250 company by 2024.
8recommendations
8Not Yet Responded
Government Response
Government endorsed the voluntary approach. Annual progress reports published from 2020 onwards. By 2023, 96% of FTSE 100 companies had met or were on track to meet the ethnic diversity target.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1.1
Each FTSE 100 Board should have at least one director of colour by 2021; and each FTSE 250 Board should have at least one director of colour by 2024.
Recommendation 1.2
Nomination committees of all FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies should require their human resources teams or search firms (as applicable) to identify and present qualified people of colour to be considered for Board appointment when vacancies occur.
Recommendation 1.3
Given the impact of the "Standard Voluntary Code of Conduct" for executive search firms in the context of gender-based recruitment, we recommend that the relevant principles of that code be extended on a similar basis to apply to the recruitment of minority ethnic candidates as Board directors of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies.
Recommendation 2.1
Members of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 should develop mechanisms to identify, develop and promote people of colour within their organisations in order to ensure over time that there is a pipeline of Board capable candidates and their managerial and executive ranks appropriately reflect the importance of diversity to their organisation.
Recommendation 2.2
Led by Board Chairs, existing Board directors of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 should mentor and/or sponsor people of colour within their own companies to ensure their readiness to assume senior managerial or executive positions internally, or non-executive Board positions externally.
Recommendation 2.3
Companies should encourage and support candidates drawn from diverse backgrounds, including people of colour, to take on Board roles internally (e.g., subsidiaries) where appropriate, as well as Board and trustee roles with external organisations (e.g., educational trusts, charities and other not-for-profit roles). These opportunities will give experience and develop oversight, leadership and stewardship skills.
Recommendation 3.1
A description of the Board's policy on diversity should be set out in a company's annual report, and this should include a description of the company's efforts to increase, amongst other things, ethnic diversity within its organisation, including at Board level.
Recommendation 3.2
Companies that do not meet Board composition recommendations by the relevant date should disclose in their annual report why they have not been able to achieve compliance.