A variety of organisations have already signed up as partners in the network. Signing up to the voluntary commitment is about supporting a direction of travel to work towards greater boardroom diversity rather than hitting a target at any one point in time.
As well as the organisations below, the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board and the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards have also signed the pledge.
“Scottish Canals fully recognises the value that diversity can bring in terms of creative challenge, insightful risk management, and strategic innovation. Within our own staff we have worked hard in the last few years to increase diversity, and in terms of gender diversity specifically our Executive Management Team already fulfils the ambition inherent in the 50/50 commitment.
“Our experience has shown that achieving and maintaining effective diversity involves much more than a simple tinkering with recruitment policy. There are wider cultural, behavioural and operational factors at play here, and we believe that there is much that can be learned from what we have already achieved. Organisations that attract high calibre people from a diverse range of backgrounds do so because they are seen to be open, flexible and inclusive places to work where diversity is valued for what it brings to overall performance. We will pull together this learning so as to create a board led strategy for delivery of the 50/50 commitment.”
Chair of Scottish Canals
Andrew Thin
“Changing the Chemistry fully supports the objective of 50/50 gender balance by 2020. This is an important first step in achieving true diversity of thought on boards, with the ultimate objective of improving board effectiveness in all sectors, contributing to a better society.”
Chair of Changing the Chemistry Tanya Castell
“There is still more work to be done to improve gender diversity on Boards in the UK, but I am encouraged that many companies are starting to tackle the issue and making a significant effort to affect change. At Alliance Trust, we fundamentally believe that a diverse workforce will create the optimum environment upon which our business will thrive and grow and are proud of our strong record of gender diversity at both the Board and Executive level. We are delighted to support this important movement and to add our commitment to improving gender balance on company Boards by 2020.”
Chief Executive of Alliance Trust Katherine Garrett-Cox
“The Commissioner welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to board diversity and views addressing the gender balance as a positive step towards achieving more diverse boards that broadly reflect the make-up of our society.”
Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life Bill Thomson