JLL moves to put more women in the boardroom

JLL will be providing media training to its female employees to address the gender imbalance in its public profile. It is one of a number of plans for the organisation aimed at developing female talent and ultimately progressing women to boardroom-level positions. The initiatives, including policies that recognise family commitments, come under the newly-formed JLL Women’s Network. At a launch event last month chief executive Guy Grainger told 200 female employees that the “disgusting behaviour” he had witnessed in his 25 years in the industry had sparked a personal commitment to address gender balance. “I want JLL to be an employer that is looked at in an aspirational way,” he told the gathering. The network will focus on building women’s confidence. Comedy workshops performed at the launch event aimed to address this, drawing on the similarities between doing stand-up and the skills required in business. Helen Gough, chairman of the JLL Women’s Network and the firm’s lead director for buildings and construction, said: “It is important for us to develop the talent of women in our firm and deal with the issues that challenge women; confidence is one we have identified. “There is a war on talent and I think it is important for all businesses to attract and retain it, and I hope the Women’s Network has a role to play in that.” The group falls under a wider agenda at JLL to increase diversity in the industry.