Lord Davies’ recent report for the government on women in the boardroom has once again shone the spotlight on the issue of gender inequality in senior positions. The percentage of women on FTSE 100 boards is 12.5% and 25 of those boards have no women on them at all. In the professional services sector, accountancy is regularly highlighted as a sector which sees a good percentage of women start at trainee level and yet not reach senior positions.

Is gender diversity in senior positions important? A wealth of research has shown that organisations with an inclusive and diverse management are better able to understand their clients and customers, and to benefit from fresh perspectives, new ideas, vigorous challenge and broad experience. Businesses, especially those in the accountancy sector, are denying themselves talent. Women now comprise nearly half of new entrants to the accountancy profession, yet relatively few progress to higher levels, with just 10% of women holding senior positions. There is evidently a ‘leaking pipeline’, as Lord Davies puts it in his report.

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