The UK Treasury Committee has called for evidence on the barriers faced by women in financial services as they launch an inquiry into sexism in the sector.
As part of the inquiry, the committee will examine the progress made in removing gender pay gaps, as well as what role firms, the government and regulators should play to combat sexual harassment and misogyny.
MPs will explore whether financial services careers should be marketed to a more diverse base of individuals, as well as how regulators and the government should ensure cultures and policies support women’s aspirations and progress.
The committee is welcoming evidence on topics such as the progress in removing the barriers to women entering and progressing their careers across the industry including progress to financial services firms’ boards and executive roles.
In 2018, the Treasury Committee inquiry called for firms to encourage the progression of women in finance by abolishing ‘alpha-male’ cultures and removing the stigma of flexible working with senior men leading by example.
The progress of implementing these recommendations will also be evaluated.
Harriet Baldwin MP, chair of the Treasury Committee, said: “As a committee, we’d like to know whether women feel more supported in the financial services industry than at the time of the previous Committee’s inquiry five years ago.
“We’ll be investigating if enough work has been done to build more supportive workplace cultures, how harassment and misogyny can be addressed, and the role the Government and regulator should play in role modelling behaviours.”
