TSB fails to meet 2020 gender balance target

Consequently, TSB has pushed back its timeline and aims to meet its target by 2025..

In 2017, TSB was closer to its target with 41 percent of women in senior roles. This year, that number has dropped to 38 percent. In light of this, it has reset its target of 45 to 55 percent of senior roles to be held by women by 2025, with “interim targets”, which it will be tracking over the next five years.

In order to achieve this target, TSB stated it is revising its actions in line with what it believes “drives results”. This includes “analysing job adverts using a gender-bias tool”, as “masculine language can put women off applying for jobs”. TSB is also “simplifying the flexible working policy”. It will be making managers accountable for integrating flexible working into their culture to aid retention.

In a statement, a TSB spokesperson said it “takes gender diversity very seriously”.

“Although we are making progress through initiatives such as Promotion Ready and Aspiring Women programmes, we have revised our target and our ambition is to deliver these before 2025,” it added.

TSB stated that while it has failed to meet its internal targets, it is “at the higher end in comparison to our peers”. It has also exceeded the government target of 33 percent of boards to be female. TSB’s board is 36 percent made up of women.

Catherine Douglas, executive sponsor for gender balance at TSB, said: “Our pledge to examine the root causes of gender imbalance has not faltered. We are constantly reviewing our initiatives to ensure we are making progress and can reach our commitment of half of senior roles held by women by 2025.”