"As a business with a 50/50 split at senior management level, this was about maintaining that and championing the cause across the industry as a whole."
Following the Treasury’s latest list of signatories today, the firm can now confirm its place as the first financial services media publication on the Charter and looks to continue its work towards gender parity as an organisation.
Barcadia Media launched its Women in Finance Supper Club in 2017, which brings women from across the industry at all levels together to network and discuss the challenges and opportunities available to women in this sector. This event has also taken place in partnership with various other businesses, such as Atom Bank, and helped establish Barcadia Media’s commitment towards a more inclusive industry.
Director Amy Loddington commented: “As a company we’re delighted to be able to announce that we’re signatories of the Charter - it’s a cause very close to our heart and, as a business with a 50/50 split at senior management level, this was about maintaining that and championing the cause across the industry as a whole.
“We’re incredibly pleased and encouraged to be one of the many businesses who have signed the Charter and we hope this will help to lead the way for a more equal and diverse industry.”
Other new signatories to the Charter include the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Investec, Sainsbury’s Bank, Goldman Sachs, UBS and Sesame Bankhall Group.
The Charter asks financial services firms to commit to four industry actions to prepare their female talent for leadership positions. Over 200 firms have signed the Charter and over 650,000 employees in the UK are now covered by its plan to tackle gender inequality in financial services.
The announcement coincides with the launch of the first Women in Finance Charter Annual Review which shows that, in the first year of the Charter, positive progress is being made to improve gender balance in the industry.
The Review shows that just over a quarter (28%) of signatories have already met their targets for female representation in senior management and more than half (57%) of the Charter’s signatories are on track to meet their future targets.
Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money and the government’s Women in Finance Champion, said: "The Women in Finance Charter now covers over 650,000 of those employed in financial services and I am delighted that the initiative is gathering real momentum.
"Estimates suggest that increased female participation in the labour market and women moving into higher-paid and skilled jobs could increase UK GDP by around 10% and the financial services sector needs to play its part."
