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Independent review

Parker Review

A Report into the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards: Beyond One by '21
Completed
Sir John Parker · Published 12 October 2017 · Commissioned by BEIS Employment & Work

Index summary

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.

Original evidence

Government Response

No formal point-by-point government response published. The Parker review was a business-led, government-backed review; the Government endorsed its voluntary targets (at least one minority ethnic director on each FTSE 100 board by 2021 and each FTSE 250 board by 2024) but did not issue a formal response document. At the review's launch the Business Minister stated she fully endorsed the recommendations, with implementation resting on companies. Progress is tracked through annual Parker Review voluntary census reports.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1.1
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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
BEIS

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Recommendation · source text

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.
No recommendations with this response.