EY has added 57 new equity partners in the UK/. This year’s new partner cohort contains 34% women (compared to 19% in 2018) and 22% black and minority ethnic (BME) (17% in 2018). This includes 43 promotions from within EY and 14 people recruited from competitors and industry.
Earlier this year, EY set itself a target of doubling the proportion of female and BME Partners in its UK business to 40% female and 20% BME by July 2025 as part of the firm’s new strategy to accelerate its progress on diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I). As of 1 July 2019, EY’s UK partnership stands at 22% female and 11% BME. This is an increase of 2% and 1% respectively since 2018.
EY aims to achieve these targets by continued support and doubling investment in its Accelerate and Future Leadership Programme for senior female and BME talent respectively and CareerWatch, a sponsorship programme for mid-career talent. A focus on flexible working and programmes such as EY Reconnect, which provides a bridge for professionals re-entering the workplace after an extended career break, is also key to attracting future talent.
Steve Varley, EY UK Chair, said he was ‘proud to see that our numbers for women and BME partners are increasing. We are continuously investing to make our partnership a level playing field – and this year’s partner intake is testament to that’.
In June, EY announced the appointment of Justine Belton to its UK LLP Board, which means that six of the 10 positions on EY’s UK LLP Board are now held by women. Also, five of EY’s 21 FTSE100 audits are now led by women.
