An Investigation of Barriers to Women in UK Banking Management

This report delves into the challenges women encounter when striving for senior management positions within the UK banking sector. It focuses on the Bank of England as a case study, examining issues such as discrimination, lack of growth opportunities, and the 'glass ceiling.' The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing questionnaires to gather primary data, complemented by a literature review and secondary sources like books and journals. The study investigates factors affecting women's retention, the impact of workplace issues, and the reasons behind the underrepresentation of women in senior roles. The findings highlight the persistent underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions, despite their increasing presence in the workforce, and offers recommendations for improving women's advancement to senior management roles within the UK banking sector. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequality and providing equal opportunities to foster business performance and promote a more diverse and inclusive leadership.

An investigation of the barriers for
woman progressing into senior
management roles in the UK banking
sector

Abstract
The present study initiates to determine the barriers for woman progressing into senior
management roles in the UK banking sector. Therefore, it is a wide area of investigation which is
effective in providing in-depth evaluation about the women position within the banking sector
and the issues which are faces by them at workplace due to inequality and discrimination. In this
present analysis the study is being executed over the analysis of Bank of England, thus it is the
central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have
been based. Therefore, it is a large bank which was established in the year of 1694 to act as the
English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of the United
Kingdom. In this present analysis, literature review is developed to enhance individual
understanding in relation to the aspect of the issues that are faces by women employees like
discrimination, lack of growth, opportunity, glass ceiling and so on within banking sector of UK.
Therefore, women are still discrimination due to the male domination society. In this present
study, the entire analysis is executed via the support of quantitative analysis therefore, in this
quantitative research is being implemented by the researcher as it is supportive in executing
detailed analysis over the chosen study area and provide suitable information within actual facts
and figures. Furthermore, methodological support can be attained from deductive approach and
positivism philosophy as these two are valuable for executing quantitative analysis via the
support of implementing approach theories, concepts and models which helps in analyzing the
barriers faces by the women employees within the UK banking sector. In addition to this, here
data analysis is being executed via the support of conducting primary research where
questionnaire is being executed to support the investigation as it is effective in gathering
information from the wider population. On the other hand, secondary sources like books,
journals and articles are evaluated within the section of discussion as here suitable evaluation is
being executed over the aim and objectives of the investigation. The conclusion of the project is
based on the evaluation of the entire study as here outcomes are created over the findings of the
project, thus this section states that, women’s involvement in the paid workforce is evaluated as
one of the most essential issue for the past decade. However, the efficient and essential progress
has been achieving via women with their developing movements into the work profile or any
kind of professional position. The dimension of female within the management has developed.
Thus, the women role in the senior management and the decision making is still low. A woman

is still under respected and less recognized element in the workplace within each and every
sector, but the presence of women within banking is still a challenge. At the end,
recommendations are provided to improvising the women position within the senior management
role of UK banking sector.

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Title of the Research........................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Overview of the Research......................................................................................................1
Background of the Research...................................................................................................2
Rationale of the Research.......................................................................................................3
Problem Statement..................................................................................................................4
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................5
Chapter Structure....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................8
Factors affecting the retention of women professionals and managers within UK banking
sector.......................................................................................................................................8
Impact of the issues faces by the women professionals within the entire operations of banking
sector.....................................................................................................................................10
Reason that lead women employees not to promote into senior management roles............11
Barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in the UK banking sector..12
Strategies are developed by banking sector to foster the women progression within banking
programs...............................................................................................................................13
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.................................................................................................17
Research Onion....................................................................................................................18
Research philosophy.............................................................................................................18
Research Approach...............................................................................................................19
Research Design...................................................................................................................20
Research Choice...................................................................................................................20
Time horizon-.......................................................................................................................21
Data collection methods-......................................................................................................22
Data Analysis........................................................................................................................22

Ethical considerations-.........................................................................................................23
Chapter 4: Data Analysis, Findings and Discussion......................................................................24
Discussion.............................................................................................................................34
Chapter 5: Recommendation..........................................................................................................38
Chapter 6: Conclusion....................................................................................................................39
References......................................................................................................................................41

Title of the Research
An investigation of the barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in
the UK banking sector.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview of the Research
The present study initiates to conduct an investigation over the barriers for women
progressing into the senior management roles in the UK banking sector. Therefore, Women’s
engagement within the paid workforce is one of the most important changes for the past century.
Hence, the effective and imperative progress has been attaining through women with their
increase movements into the occupation. The dimension of female within the management has
developed. However, the proportion of women in decision making mainly in public sector is still
low. Therefore, a woman being underrepresented with the senior academic positions and proceed
to still be an effective challenge within today's business era. Thus, the aspect of gender equality
has helped women progress but they are more inclined to take the role of junior and middle
management positions. Generally speaking, the statistics over the women progression within
baking sector has also represents that women still participate less in the labor force as there are
almost 30% less woman than men staff within the employment globally, Hence, the women’s
labor force has reduced from 52.4% to 49.6% in between the year of 1995 and 2015. The
presence and status of females within the area of paid employment has developed dramatically
over the past half century, however, the development of professional women into positions of
leadership has been slow. Motivating females who can or who are holding effective position
within the senior management to move into the direction of board‐ level positions therefore, it is
mainly viewed as an effective and tedious part of the planetary drive to develop equality among
males and females. There is likely to be immense number of reasons for that women within
senior jobs fail to progress up to board level and the potential issues are connected with
discrimination, inequality, gender differences, less education status, culture differences and the
‘glass ceiling’ have been well distinguish. However, in some cases there may be an element of
choice: some women may simply determine not to progress to board level despite being coached
for and offered such positions. The banking sector is undergoing a radical shift, one driven
through new competition from FinTechs, changing business models, mounting regulation and
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compliance pressures, and disruptive technologies. Therefore, women within the senior
management role are facing a lot issues within the banking sector, thus the major issues involve
glass ceiling, opting out, management culture, lack of flexible working hours, few female role
models, equity and fairness and so on. Thus these are widely affecting the management position
of women. For analyzing the barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in
the UK banking sector, Bank of England is select, thus it is the central bank of the United
Kingdom and the model on that most modern central banks have been based. This is a large bank
and the most suitable selection to investigate the issues faces by the women within the senior
management role as the bank is operating with immense number of staff in which male and
females are involves. The key motive of Bank of England is to gain higher growth and
progression and for this, the bank is concern over promoting equality in the management position
and also provide equal opportunity to the male and female both the employees to gain
progression and growth. The aim of this study is to understand the barriers for woman
progressing into senior management roles within UK banking sector, therefore, women are still
facing the issue of equality and this can be reduced by the businesses and the banks to
implementing the approach of gender equality and renders equal opportunity to the employees
without making bias on the basis of their gender. Thus, this would aid benefits for the business in
increasing business performance entirely (Nguyen, 2013).
http://norma.ncirl.ie/2305/1/jessicaedwards.pdf
Background of the Research
Nowadays the range of women in high administration positions despite of their
educational equality compare through the men is in low level. While if women would present in
high management positions, business progression and efficiency would be increasing. There are
assorted barriers of women’s presence within the top management positions are glass ceiling, old
boy network and sex discrimination that aid to job dissatisfaction in which the female candidate
assume they are under the control of the others which may lead to non-creativity and low
business efficiency. Hence, the elimination of issues of high management positions would made
them as an imperative pattern for other women in business, growing job satisfaction which may
aid to developing their high level of performance and their high perceptions through the situation
of other women in the business. Bank of England is the well-known and is the central bank of the
United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been settled. The
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bank was established in the year of 1694 to act as the English Government's banker and still one
of the bankers for the Government of the United Kingdom. It is recognised as the world's eighth-
oldest bank. It was privately owned by stockholders through its foundation in 1694 until it was
nationalised in 1946 by the Attlee ministry. The headquarter of the firm is in Thread-needle
Street, London, England, United Kingdom. The bank is working with immense number of staff
who are putting their significant efforts in the growth and success operations of the business. In
the male dominated society women are facing a lot challenges related to their education and the
working segments. Women are still facing issues within the management role of banking sector
and the issues affects the progression of the women within the finance sector. The bank became
an effective and independent public business within 1998 and wholly owned through the
Treasury Solicitor on the behalf of the government and its bodies, but with the independence
within the setting of monetary policy. In the highly competitive and the male domination market
the bank is concern over rendering equal opportunity to the employees without making bias as
per their gender and also appreciate the role of women within senior management and also
renders effective opportunities to grow(Kolade and Kehinde, 2013).
Rationale of the Research
The research into consideration is based on analysing the barriers for woman progressing
into senior management roles in the UK banking sector, therefore, it is a wide area of academic
writing which is effective in providing suitable idea and recognition in relation the aspect of the
issues for women progression within the senior management role. Therefore, the potential
rationale behind selecting this specific subject is that it helps in improving knowledge in relation
to the condition of women within the senior management role of banking sector of UK. The
major focus of executing an analysis over the specific area is that, women within management
role are facing a lot issues and this termed as the major issue which is widely faces by the
businesses to gain progression and success. In addition to this, the another intention of executing
an investigation over this issue is the personal interest of the researcher as the investigator wants
to explore own idea and recognition in relation to the similar subject for the purpose of
maintaining effective academic records. On the personal grounds the study is imperative in
exploring idea about the issues faces by the women within the senior management roles and also
attained idea about the academic writing which helps in enhancing the own knowledge and helps
the researcher in gaining effective position in academic work. Furthermore, the study also creates
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professional benefits in the manner to providing idea about the suitable issues faces by the
women within the management role of UK banking sector and the suitable measures which are
imperative to overcome the challenges effectively. Therefore, the study is imperative in gaining
effective development within the career segment as the individual is having suitable idea about
the issues that have been facing by the women within the management role(Dworkin, Maurer
and Schipani, 2012).
Problem Statement
The investigation is mainly conducted over the barriers for woman progressing into
senior management roles in the UK banking sector. Therefore, the study is imperative in
exploring the issues and challenges that are faces by the woman within the senior management
role in the UK banking sector. However, equality among men and women position within senior
management role are still high and women are lacking with gaining effective management
position within banking sector due to multiple reasons which involves glass ceiling,
discrimination, inequality, flexible working hours, education, management culture and so on
(Fernando, Amaratunga and Haigh, 2014).
Research Aim
Research aim is defined as the predetermined statement which is imperative in exploring
the significant direction to the researcher to define the major purpose and the issues over which
the entire project is going to carried out. Therefore, the aim is mentioned within a clear and
conscious statement which explaining the major purpose of conducting an evaluation. The key
aim of this study is “To investigate the barriers for woman progressing into senior management
roles in the UK banking sector”. A study on Bank of England (Abalkhail and Allan, 2015).
Research Objectives
This is the another important aspect of the project as it defined as the clear, concise and
declarative statement that renders appropriate direction to investigate the variables under the
study. This is the important aspect of introduction section and provides a suitable assistance to
the researcher to clearly define the variables separately and aid the project in right manner to
generate significant results. The key objectives of the research are associated as under:
 To examine the factors affecting the retention of women professionals and managers
within UK banking sector.
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 To analyze the impact of the issues faces by the women professionals within the entire
operations of banking sector.
 To examine the reason that lead women employees not to promote into senior
management roles.
 To determine the barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in the UK
banking sector.
 To identify the strategies developed by banking sector to foster the women progression
within banking programs.
Research Questions
The suitable selection of research question is an essential element of both quantitative
and qualitative research. Investigation will require data collection and analysis, and the
methodology for this will vary widely. Therefore, the questions of the research is based on the
aim and objectives of the research and are widely interconnected with the purpose of executing
the project. The suitable questions of the research are associated as under:
 What factors affecting the retention of women professionals and managers within UK
banking sector?
 What is the impact of the issues faces by the women professionals within the entire
operations of banking sector?
 What are the reason that lead women employees not to promote into senior management
roles?
 What are the barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in the UK
banking sector?
 What strategies are developed by banking sector to foster the women progression within
banking programs?
Chapter Structure
This is the most imperative area of an investigation as it supports the entire work via
rendering systematic review over the chapters which are included in the entire dissertation and
helps the investigator to aid the project in right manner to generate suitable outcome (Roberto
and et. Al., 2015). The present study is based on the aspect of investigating the barriers for
woman progressing into senior management roles in the UK banking sector, suitable structure is
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imperative in aiding the entire project in right manner. The suitable structure of the project is
associated as below;
Chapter 1: Introduction
This is the primary aspect of the dissertation as it provides brief ide about the project and
the issue on which the entire project is based. This chapter of investigation provides an overview
of the study, background of the organisation, research aim, objectives, questions and so on. In
addition to this, the chapter of introduction also explains the rationale behind executing the
project. This aspect of dissertation helps in aiding the suitable support to conduct all the research
chapters in more liable way (Zhao and et. al., 2013).
Chapter 2: Literature Review
This is the second and another important aspect of the project as it helps the researcher in
enhancing understanding in relation to a specified area with the assistance of secondary sources
like books, journals, articles and so on. The main intention of this section is to analyse the
research gap in past study. Therefore, this chapter will be essential in fulfilment of research gap
through the research questions. In the terms of this present study based on the aspect of
identifying the barriers for woman progressing into senior management roles in the UK banking
sector, literature review is effective in enhancing individual recognition to address the issue
effectively (Davis and Maldonado, 2015).
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
This is the third aspect of the project as it plays an important role in rendering the suitable
support to the investigation via selecting the suitable approaches of research. Therefore, thus
chapter helps in gathering of data about the subject. There are various sorts of exploration
systems on which the project is based like type of methodology, research design, approach,
philosophy, data collection tolls, sampling, data analysis and so on. The main role of research
methodology is to helps researcher in gathering of legitimate data about the point through
research tools (Gabaldon and et. Al., 2016).
Chapter 4: Data Analysis/ Findings and Discussion
This section helps in breaking down of data gathered from different sources. This part
will help in fulfilment of exploration aim and objectives effectively. The analysis of the
information is imperative in nature to generate suitable results. Within the present investigation
context, the analysis of information will relay over analysing the information gathered from the
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secondary sources like books, journals, articles, newspapers, online websites and so on.
Therefore, in this analysis is being executing via opinion analysis of the authors and writers as
well as here analysis has also been executing from the perspective evaluation of the past
investigation related to the similar field. This will help in achievement of exploration aim and
objective inside less timeframe and in effective moreover, researcher will likewise connect the
essential information with secondary data gathered for literature review. In addition to this, here,
analysis will be executed via the support of implementing thematic analysis and in this themes
over the questions of questionnaire and the objectives covered in the literature are created to
support the work in right manner (Morley, 2014).
Chapter 5: Recommendation
This comes after analysing the information in imperative manner as in the section of
recommendation few suggestions will be provided to the businesses to overcome with the
barriers to gain progression. In addition to this, recommendations are also will be accommodated
improving exploration title. Finally, limitations and suggestions will be accommodated leading
future examination. In this present research context, the suitable suggestions are rendered for the
banking sector like suitable training, quality emergence, policy implementation and so on to
developing the management role of women at workplace.
Chapter 6: Conclusion
This is a last part of the dissertation which helps researcher in achievement of every aim
and objectives of the research in fruitful way. Taking everything into account, whole data will be
remembered for short and away from that aid recognition of data about the whole parts.
However, in this present investigation context, conclusion is imperative in summarising the
findings of the project and states that, women are facing assorted issues within the management
role of banking sector due to high discrimination, inequality and gender differences. Thus, these
are needs to be addressed by the businesses to gain higher growth and success.
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