The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation's (WSFF) fifth annual Trophy Women? document, supported by Sport England, shows that the overall percentage of women on boards in the nation has risen from 23 per cent last year to 27 per cent, but it also illustrates that a "huge proportion of NGBs are missing out on the proven benefits of having more gender-diverse boards".

The report also said that the number of women in the most senior leadership roles also remains "worrying low" with little over 10 per cent acting as chairs and only a third in chief executive positions, while only 15 NGBs have a female development director - down from 18 last year - and just eight employ a female performance director.

With only 23 of the 45 NGBs surveyed currently meeting Sport England's governance guidelines, which expect the organisations' Boards to comprise at least 25 per cent women by 2017, Sport England chief executive Jennie Price insisted there is much more to do.

"There is no shortage of excellent female candidates, and where sports have appointed women to their Boards, they are making a significant contribution," she added.

"I strongly urge those NGBs that have not reached the 25 per cent threshold to take steps to do so before 2017."

Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said the latest WSFF figures show progress, but admitted there is much more to do ©Getty Images


WSFF said that although it supports the Sport England target, it believes NGB Boards should be aiming for at least 30 per cent female membership, which chief executive Ruth Holdaway claims "is entirely possible".

Helen Grant, Britain's Minister for Sport and Equalities, also admitted that progress could do with speeding up.

"I want to see women's sport stronger across the board with more women and girls participating, greater media coverage and more women at the top of sports governing bodies," she said.

"There have been improvements in the last couple of years but I want the pace to quicken."

A copy of the full Trophy Women? 2014 report can be accessed here.

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