Sesame Bankhall Group (SBG) has become one of the latest financial services firms to sign HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter, with a commitment to help build a more balanced and fair industry.

By signing the Charter, SBG has pledged its commitment to promoting gender diversity through the following four actions:

• Having one member of its senior executive team who is responsible and accountable for gender diversity and inclusion;
• Setting internal targets for gender diversity in its senior management;
• Publishing progress annually against these targets in reports on its website;
• Having an intention to ensure the pay of its senior executive team is linked to delivery against these internal targets on gender diversity.

Lisa Winnard, HR & business services director at Sesame Bankhall Group, said: “Equality and diversity are at the heart of our organisation’s culture, so signing the Women in Finance Charter was a natural step for our Group. We believe that a more diverse and inclusive workplace creates a better environment for people to thrive and achieve their full potential. It helps to improve innovation, decision making and customer service. This not only benefits businesses, but it also has a positive wider impact on society and the economy.

“Greater transparency is an important step in enabling this important industry issue to be discussed and addressed, so that progress can be made, particularly with regard to the greater representation of women in senior management roles. We are proud to sign the Charter and pledge our commitment to working with HM Treasury and other signatory organisations in order to build a better future for our industry and the customers we serve.”