Progressive signs gender equality pledge

Progressive Building Society, Northern Ireland's largest locally-owned financial institution is the first indigenous based organisation to sign up to a new UK wide government pledge aimed at improving gender balance in the financial services industry.
Progressive CEO Darina Armstrong, right, with Harriett Baldwin MPProgressive CEO Darina Armstrong, right, with Harriett Baldwin MP
Progressive CEO Darina Armstrong, right, with Harriett Baldwin MP

Through the Women in Finance Charter, the business has committed to working with HM Treasury as well as 71 major financial services firms from across the UK to build a more balanced and fair industry.

The Charter’s commitments are based on the recommendations in the Gadhia Review which was published in March. It found that in UK Financial Services, female representation was around 23% on Boards, but only 14% on Executive Committees.

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Progressive CEO Darina Armstrong, who is the first female and the first Northern Ireland representative to sit on the Building Societies Association Council, has said the mutual is a strong supporter and advocate of the Charter.

The initiative highlights the importance of a balanced workforce which it states is good for business, customers, profitability and workplace culture as well as being increasingly attractive for investors.

“Progressive Building Society is committed to, and fully supports, the Women in Finance Charter,” she said.

“We firmly believe in maintaining a healthy gender balance at all levels throughout the Society which not only offers many benefits to our Members, but also strengthens the Society’s workplace culture of diversity and inclusiveness.”

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