This Board Diversity Statement outlines the British Business Bank’s approach to diversity at Board level. It also provides a high-level overview of the Bank’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion in senior management roles which is governed in greater detail through the Bank’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy.
We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to achieving our mission to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK. One of our key strategic objectives is to unlock potential by ensuring businesses can access the finance they need, regardless of where and who they are. To truly support our customers and achieve this goal, it is vital that we apply the same commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in relation to the Board and embed these principles across all areas of our operations.
Our approach to diversity is aligned with the UK Government’s Functional Standards, ensuring that governance, leadership, and management reflect the highest levels of integrity, transparency, and inclusion. We promote fair and open recruitment processes to attract a broad range of talent and ensure the Board reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate and invest—including,where appropriate,through the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website.
We are committed to fostering diversity of thought, recognising that this is best achieved through the representation of varied lived experiences. By embracing diverse perspectives, the Board will better reflect the communities and regions we serve, leading to more informed decision-making and stronger advocacy.
Our commitment is reinforced by alignment with leading UK diversity initiatives and reviews:
- as a signatory to HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter, we are committed to advancing gender diversity at all levels of the organisation, including the Board. We actively work toward the recommendations outlined in the FTSE Women Leaders Review (formerly the Hampton-Alexander Review) by setting and pursuing clear gender diversity targets. Our ambition is to maintain at least 40% female representation on the Board, consistent with the review’s guidance, and to support women into leadership roles throughout the Bank.
- we also support the recommendations of the Parker Review, which set a benchmark for ethnic diversity on boards. In alignment with its guidance, we aspire to have at least one Director from a minority ethnic background on our Board. This is part of our broader aim for our leadership to reflect theracial and ethnic diversity of the UK