Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Thursday 17th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Victoria Atkins]

Of course we are always willing to look at what is happening internationally. The hon. Gentleman will know that the plans in the Hampton-Alexander review are ambitious. For example, they require businesses, before 2020, to recruit women for one in two senior roles that now exist if business is to meet that goal. If it does not, the Hampton-Alexander review panel will look at what more should be done to encourage business to do so.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

One way to encourage more women through to the highest levels of business is strong mentoring. What more can be done to help spread that and roll it out further?

[Victoria Atkins]

Mentoring is just one way, and there is a lot of evidence to suggest that sponsorship is very successful in driving women up the career ladder. That is precisely why the Hampton-Alexander review has given help through the Women’s Business Council and the toolkit. We have encouraged businesses to sponsor women within their organisation and to engage CEOs and other senior business leaders as change agents in championing the change required.