Redwood Bank signs Women in Finance charter

By signing up to the Charter, Redwood Bank has committed to having at least 30% women in senior roles by the end of September 2021.

Firms signing up to the Charter are required to show a commitment to implementing four key industry actions, including supporting the progression of women into senior roles in the financial services and showing how they have linked executive variable pay to their gender diversity targets.

Organisations must pledge to promote gender diversity by having one member of the senior executive team responsible for gender diversity and inclusion.

They must also set internal targets for gender diversity in senior management and publish annual reports online, showing their progress against these targets.

Redwood Bank launched in August 2017 and offers secured mortgages for SMEs as well as experienced commercial and residential property investors.

Tracey Lester, head of human resources at Redwood Bank, said: “In signing the Charter, we endorse the aspiration to achieve a gender balance and diverse workforce across the Bank, as this is an integral part of our culture, values, behaviours and the way we do business.

“The Bank has already begun this journey by creating a culture of inclusion, development programmes and coaching for all critical positions, to ensure a continuity of leadership, and by documenting behaviours that support our values, which are assessed along with objectives in equal measures.

“We have implemented strategies for increasing inclusiveness through employee participation and resource groups and we encourage flexible working arrangements that support both male and female employees.

“Our mentoring and emerging talent programmes provide a sound and fair working environment, where staff can grow and develop, while we have policies and practices in place to address unconscious bias in the workplace, including in recruitment and selection.

“Over the next two years, further initiatives will be implemented to help us deliver our Women in Finance Charter target, which is to work towards 30% female representation across the senior management team by the end of September 2021.”