49 Issue 251 - February / March 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk s another year passes and the time has come around again for us to mark International Women’s Day, I have been looking back over research, statistics, and my own writing on the topic. I have to say, I have found more positive than negative reports on diversity within business and the disparity between female and male entrepreneurs and leaders does seem to be improving. Two years ago in an article I wrote for SignLink to mark IWD 2022, a common theme that kept coming up amongst the women I interviewed was that whilst the number of women in the signage and graphics industry was visibly increasing, be that within companies or through the number of women attending and participating in exhibitions and industry events, the number of women in leadership or business ownership roles was still lacking. However, according to research by the World Economy Forum, the share of women hired into leadership roles has increased by 3.6% in the past six years with the share of women hired into leadership roles increasing from 33.3% in 2016 to 36.9% in 2022. Whilst not a groundbreaking statistic it’s still encouraging to see the figure rising. Additionally, a Rose Review Progress Report 2023 found that in 2022, women in the UK established over 150,000 new companies – more than twice as many as in 2018. There is also plenty of research to back up the fact that a diverse leadership results in improved business performance. This makes sense when you think about the variety of skills and qualities both males and females can bring to a business and when you use these together to complement each other, it can only be a good thing. According to McKinsey, businesses with diverse executive teams are 25% more likely to be highly profitable. Women-led businesses are also more likely to provide training and upskilling opportunities to their workers (European Investment Bank). When the topic of women in the industry is raised, there can be a few that question the need for equality and challenge whether there is even an issue in the first place. On that note, I would say it’s worth remembering that despite waves being made and improvements being noticed, Globally, only a quarter of countries have equal legal rights for women and men (World Bank). Out of 141 countries covered in the Women, Business and the Law database, only 38 countries have set out equal legal rights for men and women. This can affect women in areas such as their marriages and relationships as well as their careers. This also feels a fitting time to mention that celebrating International Women’s Day and in turn championing for equality within the signage and graphics industry and further afield, does not mean that we feel women should take over the roles of men, and it very much does not mean this is only In an ode to International Women’s Day 2024, we look at some of the reasons why women might not charge ahead in business, and hear from three women who have done just that I have learned to understand the financial aspects of the business and the impact of the decisions that we make. Over the last three years, I have certainly developed a broader perspective and understanding of the industry Women in Sign INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024 ▲ABronze statue of political activist and homegrown suffragette Annie Kenny for the Women’s Social and Political Union in the centre of Oldham, England
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