Ethnic diversity on the boards of Britain’s largest companies has reached a record high, according to the latest report by the Parker Review Committee.
However, the study warns that progress remains uneven, particularly in senior management and in the representation of black professionals. The 2025 voluntary census examined diversity across companies in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, as well as 50 of the UK’s largest private firms.
Conducted with the UK Department for Business and Trade and sponsored by EY, the study found that ethnic minorities now hold 20 per cent of board positions in FTSE 100 companies, up from 19 per cent in 2024. A total of 98 FTSE 100 firms now have at least one ethnic minority director, compared with 47 when the review began tracking data in 2015.
Leadership representation has also grown. Fourteen FTSE 100 companies are currently led by ethnic minority chief executives, alongside eight board chairs and nine chief financial officers. Meanwhile, 56 firms now have two or more ethnic minority board members.
Progress in the FTSE 250 has also continued, with 82 per cent of companies now meeting the target of at least one ethnic minority director and minorities holding 16 per cent of board seats. However, improvement among large private firms has been slower, with only 42 per cent meeting the target so far.
Despite gains at board level, representation in senior management remains lower. Ethnic minorities hold around 11 per cent of senior roles in FTSE 100 companies and about 10 per cent in both the FTSE 250 and major private firms. Companies have set voluntary targets to raise these figures by 2027.
