2. UK: The Merits and Shortcomings of a Voluntary Approach

This chapter examines the situation of women on boards in the UK. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the country’s political and economic context, outlining gender equality trends and the nature of workplace equality and diversity policies in the UK. Second, the chapter discusses the UK corporate governance system and its landmark ‘comply or explain’ approach. Third, the chapter outlines trends in gender representation on FTSE boards, analyzing national-level policy on women on boards over almost two decades, with an emphasis on the relatively successful Davies Review (2011–2015). The achievements and limitations of this voluntary approach are then critically discussed, drawing particular attention to the effectiveness of a multi-stakeholder approach, but also to the fragility of change secured through voluntary measures.