Our Future.
The global theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, Give to Gain, fits perfectly with our commitment to the Women in Finance Charter and our drive to create a more inclusive, supportive and opportunity‑filled future for women across our business.
We’re proud to have committed to supporting HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter. It’s a natural step for us and reflects the values we already live by. The Charter was created to help financial services firms across the UK improve gender diversity, with a particular focus on senior leadership. A government review over a decade ago exposed how far the sector had to go. It sparked a much‑needed movement for change.
Today, more than 400 firms representing 1.3 million employees have joined the Charter. By being part of it we’re reinforcing our commitment to gender equity and standing alongside others who are pushing the industry forward.
What Signing the Charter Means for CP
We signed the Charter in 2024. In doing so we had to demonstrate that we are serious about positive, measurable change. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Clear accountability
Gender diversity is firmly on our leadership’s agenda. Ensuring gender balance stays high on our agenda and we remain accountable for continuing to improve.
Internally we’ve established a Women’s Network to give our people a space to connect, share experiences and support each other.
Setting bold, measurable targets
We’ve set firm targets for increasing female representation in senior roles and will report our progress every year. We’re being ambitious. By 2027, we want 35% of our partners to be women, building on the 30% we have today.
Growth through acquisition adds complexity, as the legacy gender balance in acquired firms may not yet match our ambition. But the target stands because it matters.
ATTRACTING FEMALE TALENT
To bring more women into finance, we’ve invested in our external campaigns that celebrate and champion women across different specialisms. Including:
She Rocks Business
Created with Shakespeare Martineau, She Rocks Business is a network for female leaders from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds, reaching well beyond financial services. It brings together women who want to learn, reflect and collaborate. Through energising events, we create space for trailblazers and rising stars to connect, share insight and take fresh inspiration back into their worlds.
Women in Deals
Women working in Deals roles are still in the minority across the industry. Our Women in Deals community in the Midlands creates space for connection, mentoring and shared experience. It gives women visibility, support and the chance to build meaningful professional relationships.
Women in Finance Insight Days
We know that we need to reach young women earlier. This is why we launched our Women in Finance Insight Days. This year we’re also taking events into schools and colleges to widen the funnel long before applications open.
The results speak for themselves:
- 99 attendees across five events
- Four hires already made
- 33% application rate
- 52% of our 2026 hires so far are women, showing a major shift in our pipeline
We’re not alone in doing this. Across the industry, firms are investing in gender equity initiatives, from women‑focused internships to nationwide insight programmes. If we don’t continue to create opportunities, we risk losing brilliant talent to other sectors who will.
Keeping Women at CP: Retention and Support
Retention is every bit as important as attraction and progression. We continue to expand our inclusive workplace practices, including maternity support, parental leave enhancements and female health initiatives. We want CP to be a place where women can build long, fulfilling careers.
Looking Ahead
Our D&I strategy sets out our ambition to be an inclusive employer of choice. Being committed to the Women in Finance Charter reflects our long‑term ambition to improving gender balance across our business. We know there’s more to do, and we’re determined to make meaningful, measurable progress.
