SEGRO signs up to nationwide campaign to improve gender diversity in the boardroom
30% club brings together UK’s leading companies who are tackling the issue of gender inequality with a goal of achieving a minimum of 30% women on FTSE-100 boards. SEGRO’s membership is part of the company’s wider commitment to encouraging diversity in the workplace as an equal opportunities employer
SEGRO plc (‘SEGRO’) has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality in the workplace by becoming members of the 30% Club, a nationwide campaign with a goal of achieving a minimum of 30% women on FTSE-100 boards.
With a presence in nine countries worldwide, the 30% Club launched as a campaign in the UK in 2010, and is made up of a wide range and growing number of FTSE-100 and FTSE-250 companies who all share the same commitment to accelerating the pipeline of women in senior corporate positions.
In August 2017, the 30% Club wrote to FTSE 350 CEOs to urge them to commit to setting an aspirational target of 30% female representation in their senior leadership teams by 2020 and have announced this weekend that 30 FTSE 100 CEO Members across 29 companies have made this commitment.
As a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and light industrial property, SEGRO employs 300 people, serving 1,200 customers in nine European countries and is an equal opportunities employer. The membership of the 30% Club is part of the company’s wider commitment to promoting diversity in the workplace and fostering a merit-based culture of fairness which places ability at the heart of its ethos.
As part of its drive to improve diversity within the company and the wider industry, SEGRO has become active in programmes tackling the issue. Since 2012, the company has supported Pathways to Property, a partnership initiative with Reading University which provides advice and opportunities for young people interested in pursuing a career in property, as well sponsoring Real Estate Balance, an association of business leaders from across the industry committed to addressing the gender imbalance in the sector. In 2017, SEGRO CEO David Sleath became a signatory of the Real Estate Balance CEO Commitments.
As a company, SEGRO has a strong record of promoting and appointing women to senior roles, with women holding five out of 19 positions on its senior Leadership team. Across the business, 45% of employees are female.
David Sleath, Chief Executive, SEGRO, said:
“Joining the 30% Club is a public declaration of our commitment to increase the levels of gender diversity in our business. We believe that seeking a more gender-balanced workforce is not only good for business, it’s the right thing to do.
“At SEGRO, we are focussed on promoting an open culture, which is free from bias, and where women feel that they have an equal chance of reaching the most senior roles within our business.
“I hope that, as early adopters in the property industry, we will encourage others to join to the 30% Club and drive forward the pace of change.”
Brenda Trenowden, 30% Club Global Chair, said:
“Encouraging CEO’s to set goals to have 30% female Executive leaders by 2020 has become a key area of our focus at the 30% Club. Great momentum has been created behind our campaign, but there is still much work to do, and we’re thrilled that companies like SEGRO has made this a priority.”
About SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and light industrial property. It owns or manages 6.3 million square metres (68 million square feet) of space valued at over £8 billion, serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in nine other European countries.