The UK’s largest business groups have come together to call on the Government to stop using the word ‘chairman’, saying it is outdated.
The CBI, the British Chambers of Commerce, Make UK and the Institute of Directors have all signed the open letter calling for the change. All 53 accredited Chambers of Commerce that are part of the BCC network have also signed up.
Though most companies now use the more neutral word ‘chair’, Companies House still has ‘chairman’ as its default.
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The business groups say this could be changed in upcoming business legislation and would encourage who still use ‘chairman’ to follow suit.
Sarah Howard, chair of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “More needs to be done to help the young girls and women of today achieve their ambitions. Research from the FTSE Women Leaders Review 2022 reveals just 8% of FTSE 100 CEOs are women and only 13.7% of executive directorships.
“Currently Companies House still uses the word ‘chairman’ in its model articles of association and has done for many years, meaning it has been used by thousands of businesses across the country when they are set up.
“While businesses can change it themselves, many are under the impression that it is a requirement of Companies House. Language matters. Just as ‘policeman’ and ‘fireman’ have been replaced with more inclusive terms, so too should ‘chairman’ be consigned to the history books.”
Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of Make UK, said: “This is a welcome and long overdue change which is easy to make and which I hope all businesses across the UK will support. Despite progress in recent years, it remains the case that women are under-represented in the most senior roles across companies.
“This is a small, but positive and highly symbolic change that I hope Government will back.”
Jonathan Geldart, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “Whilst significant strides forward have been made on improving gender balance in board and leadership positions, we must continue to strive for greater representation by women.
“Clearly changing Companies House’s model articles is no silver bullet, but neither is it trivial. The importance of language should not be underestimated. By taking this small step, the Government can ensure that gender neutrality is instilled in new business ventures at their inception.”
