Britain has experienced a “sea change” in the proportion of women in top company boardrooms, a study has revealed.
The research, published on Tuesday, shows that London has climbed four spaces and is now behind Paris, with 40 per cent of all board positions of companies listed on London's FTSE 100 index occupied by women last year.
London jumped from fifth place to sit behind the Paris CAC 40 index, which retained the top spot with slightly less than 44 per cent, data compiled by the state-backed FTSE Women Leaders Review showed.
The panel said this highlighted “a major sea change in attitudes to getting women leaders to the top table of business in the UK".
Despite only eight of the British capital's top 100 listed companies having women chief executives last year, it marks enormous progress from the FTSE 100 having only 12.5 per cent of women in board positions 10 years ago.
“UK businesses have made enormous progress in recent years to ensure that everyone, whatever their background, can succeed on merit,” UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said.
“Today's findings highlight this, with more women at the top table of Britain's biggest companies than ever before.”
The panel proposed measures such as a new voluntary target for FTSE 350 boards and leadership teams to be increased to a minimum level of 40 per cent by the end of 2025.

“It is excellent to see the progress being made but we know there is more to be done,” Women and Equalities Minister Liz Truss said.
“This government is committed to working to tackle inequality and promoting equality of opportunity, including at senior level, so everyone can thrive.”
The FTSE Women Leaders Review monitors and sets recommendations to improve women's representation in 24,000 positions across the boardrooms and leadership teams of the largest UK companies.
The review, which charts progress in ensuring more female executives occupy senior roles, also wants other targets for the top 350 listed companies.
It also wants to extend the scope of the review beyond the FTSE 350 to include Britain's 50 largest private companies by sales.
“We know there is much more work to do and no shortage of experienced, capable women, ambitious for themselves and their company across all sectors of business today,” said review chief executive Denise Wilson.
“So, while we continue to build on progress for women on boards, we need to firmly shift focus in this next phase to women in leadership roles at the top of the organisation.”
Women chief executives are still rare among Britain's largest listed companies, with only 16 among the top 350 businesses on the London Stock Exchange as of March 2021.
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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The burning issue
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Rating: 2/5
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Etihad Airways – 600555666
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Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
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((Disclaimer))
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Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
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Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
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