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Women are under-represented in public appointments in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) sector. Greater representation would benefit the future productivity of the UK and the lifetime earnings and career aspirations of women. Public appointment allows women to contribute to SET and society, offers the chance to acquire new skills and knowledge, and to work with new people. UKRC was launched in September 2004 as the Government’s lead organisation to supply advice, services and policy consultation regarding the under-representation of women in science, engineering and technology (SET). UKRC is working in partnership with the Government to effect 40% female representation on SET public bodies by 2011. According to figures compiled by UKRC in 2006 and based on Cabinet Office data, women members currently comprise 26% of the 59 public bodies making decisions about SET. The overall representation of women as new appointees and re-appointees to public bodies was 36.6% in 2006. Further, 92% of directors of SET firms are men, compared to 87.5% in non-SET firms. |
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Appointments Commission - www.appointments.org.ukSpecialise in the recruitment, training and appraisal of people for board level public appointments to NHS bodies, ministerial advisory bodies and other arm's length bodies in England. DirectGov - www.direct.gov.ukThis website provides and overview of public appointments, how to apply and also lists vacancies including information about becoming a school governor. One Stop Shop for School Governors - www.sgoss.org.ukOne Stop Shop is a small, highly successful charity, which recruits volunteers, from many Black Minority Ethnic communities, to become governors in schools across England. Women take part (Changes)Email for more information
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To establish practical ways in which grass roots women can become engaged as school governors. London Councils "Be a Councillor campaign"Be a Councillor website Working with Capital Ambition and the Leadership Centre for Local Government on the 'Be a Councillor' campaign, which is about making people more aware of the work of their local council, and councillors, with a view to encouraging more people to consider standing in the 2010 elections Operation Black Vote - www.obv.org.ukOBV is a leading non-party political organisation, whose main aim is to encourage those from a Black, Minority Ethnic background to take a greater part in the electoral process. Magistrates Association - www.magistrates-association.org.ukThis website contains lots of useful information about how to become a magistrate in your local area. Working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society. In 2004, the WNC produced 'Women in Public Life - A Guide' outlining the importance of women's involvement in public bodies and showcasing women who have held roles on public bodies. We are hoping to revise this guide soon. Download the guide here Women in Public Life Pdf 371Kb |
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Councillors Commission webpages The Government has taken a series of measures to boost the number of women participating in public life, including establishing the Councillors' Commission to increase the diversity of Local Government Councillors so that communities are better represented. The Commission was set up by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in February 2007 as an independent review to look at the incentives and barriers that encourage or deter people from standing for election as councillors.The Councillors Commission was chaired by Dr Jane Roberts DBE, former Leader of the London Borough of Camden. The Commission published its recommendations in its report Representing the future on 10 December 2007. The Government is currently considering the Commission's report and will be publishing a response later this year. Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women Councillors Taskforce
The Government has established a Taskforce to address the under representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women Councillors. The Taskforce will be working closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government, who will soon be responding to the Councillors Commission report Representing the Future which made recommendations aimed at reducing barriers and increasing the incentives for people to stand and serve as councillors.The initiative lies at the heart of the Government's priorities for women which were set out last summer and included, increasing the number of BAME women on local councils. BAME women account for less than 1% of England's 20,000 councillors. To be more representative of society as a whole, the number of BAME Women Councillors needs to be increased more than five-fold - from 168 of all councillors in England to nearer a thousand.The Taskforce is being chaired by Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green and will initially last for 12 months. The members will include BAME women councillors and former councillors from every region in England, as well as from Scotland and Wales. The Taskforce will identify and take practical action to increase awareness and build confidence and skills; reach out into communities to encourage women to step forward to become local councillors; identify and tackle barriers within political parties; and reduce disadvantage and stereotyping from within and outside the communities. The Taskforce will be supported in its work by the Ministers for Women and Equalities and secretariat will be provided by the Government Equalities Office. More information on the Taskforce is available on the Government Equalities Office website. To email the Taskforce team, click
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In March 2008 we began working with the Cabinet Office on a new initiative to encourage more women to apply for posts on public bodies. Working with four Government departments - the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office - and the Appointments Commission, we are publicising a selection of current advertisements for posts on the boards of public bodies and are encouraging women with the specified skills and experience to apply for these advertisements and others. |
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In 2007 just 36.2% of public appointments were women. Over many years the WNC has worked to improve women's representation in public life. We feel that representation on public bodies should aim to reflect society as a whole and include people from all parts of the community, all walks of life and those with a wide range of skills and experiences. The figures make clear that many public bodies are still not benefiting from the different perspectives that women bring to the decision making process. The increasingly high number of women with power and status in public life today do not speak solely or even largely on behalf of all women - but women's experiences as women, their perspectives and their voices can and do inform the way they do things. They are vital in ensuring that women in society have their views reflected. Women are not all the same and do not speak with one voice. So it is important that women of all backgrounds play a part - women of faith; women of no faith; women from different ethnic groups; disabled women; lesbians; younger and older women. Statistics collated by the Government Equalities Office (GEO) show continuing low rates of representation of women in public bodies. Women's Representation in politics across the UK - an overview - 19.7% House of Lords Peers
- 0.3% Ethnic Minority Women Members of Parliament
- 34% All Ministers
- 26% Cabinet Ministers
- 19.3% Members of Parliament
- 33% Members of Scottish Parliament
- 46.7% Welsh Assembly Members
- 26% Members of European Parliament
- 0.9% Ethnic Minority women councillors
Women's Representation in Other Public Bodies - 8% University Vice-Chancellors
- 30% Police Authority board members
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