WOMEN are making their mark in the workplace. A UK survey found that almost a quarter of directors are now female, with most involved in leading small to medium-sized businesses.

And Institute of Directors chairman Advocate Ian Kirk said he thought this trend was certainly reflected in Guernsey.

‘There has definitely been an increase in the number of women directors over recent years as companies have promoted experienced women to their board,’ he said.

‘If someone is good enough to be a director, they should be appointed to the board, irrespective of gender.’

Mr Kirk said half the IoD committee was currently made up of women, compared with none when he joined a number of years ago.

Member Carol Goodwin, who was appointed the first female managing director of a local bank, said she was amazed and delighted at the number of women directors.

‘There are advantages in bringing diversity to the company – it allows us to tackle different and broader issues in the boardroom.

‘It’s still not quite proportionate, but it’s working its way there.

‘We’re moving with the times and the talent which has always been there is now being recognised and women are becoming more career-minded.’

Mrs Goodwin said the male-to-female ratio of directors had been extremely disproportionate when she was appointed in 1994.

She felt that there was a need to develop what she referred to as the ‘marzipan level’, or those just below chief executive.

However, she also warned against a quota system common in the US.

‘A directorial appointment should be about merit and about performance,’ she said.

Approved Personnel managing director Gina Le Prevost thought it was less unusual for women to be at the top of the corporate ladder.

‘It’s possibly happening more now because companies are looking at gender in the workplace and making sure it’s equal,’ she said.

‘People are looking for the best person for the job, instead of thinking that females have to go off and look after a family.’

Ms Le Prevost added that it was more common for both partners to spend equal time looking after their children and that parental leave was generally granted to both the mother and the father.

‘Both the female and male take time off to look after the child because it is a shared job. Employers are not gaining anything by taking men on in this sense because they have a shared responsibility as well.’

The research showed that female directors were most likely to be involved in companies relating to the fields of education and health, while men tended to retain control of larger companies.

Karel Harris, a director of Sarnia Hotels – a family-run business comprising Les Rocquettes, Best Western Moores and de Havelet – said females holding managerial positions in the hotel industry was common in the UK, but less so in Guernsey

‘I would like to see more ladies involved in hospitality management on the island,’ she said.

‘I think it’s something women can do very well.’