Men ‘must do more to fight macho company culture’

Minister calls for ‘male diversity champions’ to help empower women

COMPANIES should appoint “male diversity champions” to change macho cultures in offices, a Treasury minister has said.

They would take part in mentoring, become allies to women in the office and lead the way for other men by making use of shared parental leave.

John Glen, the Economic Secretary, yesterday called on men to do more to address gender inequality and “backwards attitudes” towards women in financial services.

Addressing business leaders, he said there was “only so much” the Government can do and that improving gender equality requires a “cultural and psychological shift” in companies and “enduring commitment” from employers.

“Words alone will not buck decades of indifference,” Mr Glen said.

“We need deeds and I am calling on men working in financial services today to help confront this problem.

“It is 2018 – corporate attitudes have to change and you must embrace gender equality.”

He announced the launch of an industrywide round table to discuss the unhelpful attitudes women face and how they can be reversed.

“Across all businesses and across all pay grades we need to think how we can smooth the career path of working women,” he said.

“We can start by harnessing the collective voice of male leaders across the board.” The Telegraph’s Women Mean Business campaign has shone a light on the issues facing female entrepreneurs, and has been calling for the Government to take action.

Jayne-anne Gadhia, the Government’s Women and Finance champion, who supports the campaign, told The Daily Telegraph: “Gender should play no part in access to opportunity, development, progression and success for everyone.”

Yesterday, the Treasury announced that 300 companies have signed up to the Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter, launched in 2016 to help increase the number of women in senior roles. Companies that account for almost half of the country’s financial services staff have signed up to the charter.

“A balanced workforce is good for staff, customers, productivity and profitability, and I’m delighted that 300 companies have now made a public commitment to improve gender balance in financial services by signing the Women in Finance Charter,” Ms Gadhia said.

The move comes as Penny Mordaunt, the Women and Equalities minister, today announces a £600,000 fund to help vulnerable women return to work after they have been caring for a relative.

Ms Mordaunt will also say she will be shifting the focus of the Government Equalities Office to helping women who are economically inactive or in low-skilled jobs.

“It will be our mission to ensure that every woman in the UK has as much freedom, choice, capacity, resilience, support and protection to do whatever she wants to do,” Ms Mordaunt will say.