s another year passes and the time has come around again for us to mark International Women’s Day (March 8th), 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 Print Monthly to mark IWD 2022, I referred to the BPIF's 2018 study which found that the ratio of 69% men and 31% women in the print industry had improved since 2013, this gap was even wider in production roles which were made up of 72% men and 28% women. Since then, I have personally noticed an increase in women in leadership roles as well as attending industry events, so I do feel the gap is continuing to improve but more can still be done. 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 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 men and women 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 who 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 print 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 an issue for women. We need men and women to be working together to create a diverse and balanced workforce across the industry for optimum performance and success for all. Lessons and Achievements So, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, let’s hear from some of the women in the print industry and find out how they got into their roles and what the journey has looked like for them. Having started out in the industry as an office junior, Gill Tress, business services director of SF Taylor has very much risen up the ranks having recently celebrated 40 years at the company. Tress joined the company in 1983 and remembers how most companies didn’t use computers at the time with everything being done manually. Since then, Tress has experienced the industry changing significantly. Starting out at SF Taylor, Tress learned all the basic processes of the business, but not one to become complacent in her role, she expanded her knowledge and became office manager. Then, when the opportunity arose and she felt she had much more to contribute to the growth and development of the business, Tress became a shareholder and director. One of the steepest learning curves for Tress has been constant adaptation to market trends and technological advancements. “Staying ahead of the game in the ever-changing world of commercial printing demands an innovative mindset, so there is always a learning curve there,” WOMEN IN PRINT Staying ahead of the game in the ever-changing world of commercial printing demands an innovative mindset, so there is always a learning curve there 49 www.printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2024 - Issue 347 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024 In an ode to International Women’s Day 2024, we look at how a handful of women in print got into the industry, the learning curves they’ve experienced, and their proudest moments throughout their careers ▲ Gill Tress, business service director of SF Taylor
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==