Gender equality goals and progress

Handelsbanken gender equality goal

By 30 June 2021 Handelsbanken aims to have 30% female leaders and 40% female leaders by 2026.

Our progress against the goals as of 30 June 2023

In the UK Bank as a whole, there has been an increase of 11% (2016: 18%, 2023: 29%) of women in leadership positions since 30 June 2016,with women making up 40% of new recruits in 12 months to 30 June 2023. Since 2016, our percentage of female leaders has increased by 50%.

What else are we doing?

  • Inclusive Employers Standard (IES) accreditation – we’re delighted to have achieved a Bronze accreditation under the IES. This award cited our high level of commitment to, and delivery of, a broad range of events that promote and celebrate diversity. The feedback report for this accreditation will also provide us with targeted actions that will support our wider diversity and inclusion strategy, into 2024 and beyond.
  • Returners programme - We’ve partnered with an external company called Women Returners, utilising their extensive experience in attracting a cohort of women returners to the job market.
  • Enhancement of family friendly policies – in January 2023, we enhanced our ‘Family Friendly’ policies and we now have a gender-neutral approach. A gender-neutral family-friendly approach increases the probability of women returning to work after maternity leave while encouraging the redistribution of domestic care work and parenting responsibilities.
  • Creation of two new Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) – following the launch of our ‘Gender’ and ‘LGBTQ+ and Allies’ ERGs, we’re delighted to have  also created ‘Wellbeing’ and ‘Valuing Differences’. These groups of collective voices have been instrumental in driving awareness and engagement and will be an integral resource in driving action within our diversity and inclusion  strategy for 2024 and beyond.
  • Recognition for sourcing female talent – in 2023 we were recognised in the Cords Hiring Leaders Awards for Gender Diversity Sourcing. We were honoured among the top 20 companies (14th place), exceeding industry averages in sourcing female talent;  we were the only bank in the top 20, scoring 36% above average. This demonstrates our continued commitment to improving gender-balanced recruitment.
Please note: data used is as at 30 June 2016, 30 June 2017, 30 June 2018 ,30 June 2019, 30 June 2020, 30 June 2021, 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2023.