Omnicom has launched a day-long training programme in support of women as it looks to promote gender equality and rising female talent across its companies.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, Omniwomen UK will see speakers including Jo Swinson, minister for women and equalities, and Omnicom executives discuss a range of topics – from leadership, to issues affecting women in the industry.
Currently, women make up just 17% of board directors of FTSE 100 companies, according to UK Feminista, while a study by the Fawcett Society found that 51% of women and men from middle management to director level say that “stereotyping” is the biggest problem women face at work.
Inequality between men and women in the workplace is further emphasised by the full time gender pay gap, which is currently at 10%. Alarmingly, it is also estimated that for each year a mother is absent from the workplace her future wages will reduce by 5%.
Commenting on the programme, Cilla Snowball, chief executive of AMV BBDO, said: “We’ve designed this training day to be the Omniwomen debut in the UK, based on what women across Omnicom told us about the issues that affect them on a daily basis, including gender codes, confidence in leadership, motherhood and finding real role models and mentors.”
Janet Riccio, Omnicom’s executive vice president, added: “This is not solely a women’s issue, but rather a strategic business imperative.
“Companies that have diverse, inclusive management teams and boards financially outperform those who don’t. The best investment we can make is in our own human capital.”
