EHRC Supports A Boost For Board Diversity

Board diversity is a hot topic in the City. Accordingly, it is no surprise that on 23 March 2016 the Equality and Human Rights Commission (the EHRC) shared new non-binding guidance for companies entitled: "How to improve board diversity: a six-step guide to good practice". The EHRC states that this guidance is written within the ambit of the Equality Act 2010 and the Financial Reporting Council's UK Corporate Governance Code.

A copy of the EHRC guidance is available here.

The six steps suggested in the guidance are as follows:

1. Defining the selection criteria for board appointments in terms of measurable skills, experience, knowledge and personal qualities

   In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the guidance stresses the importance of having a nomination committee which makes recommendations to the board on the appointment of potential candidates. Care should also be taken by the nomination committee in preparing the role description for