In transforming the copier industry’s norms, Lauren Rabbitte exemplifies success and diversity in a male-dominated field.
Lauren Rabbitte, who joined Effective Consumable Solutions (ECS) over six years ago and is a Sales Executive, is a notable figure in the predominantly male copier industry. Her achievements at ECS, a leading remanufacturer and supplier of copier consumables, are significant.
Lauren Rabbitte pictured in centre
Lauren’s journey in the industry is marked by overcoming gender-related challenges and stereotypes. Her success story exemplifies dedication, skill, and a customer-centric approach that has substantially increased ECS’s copier consumables sales.
Lauren’s role at ECS is not just about sales; it’s about setting a precedent in a sector often viewed as challenging for women. Her efforts have not only contributed to the company’s growth but have also paved the way for more diversity in the industry. Lauren’s story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with passion and expertise, barriers in any sector can be broken, regardless of gender. ECS proudly recognizes her contribution as a paradigm shift in the industry, celebrating diversity and inclusivity.
In the UK, the representation of women in senior leadership roles has seen some progress, particularly within large companies listed on the stock market. As of the FTSE Women Leaders Review in 2023, women hold 40.2% of board roles in FTSE 350 companies, up from just 9.5% in 2011. The UK is currently second globally for the percentage of women on boards, trailing only behind France. Despite these strides, women in executive director roles remain less represented, accounting for only 13.8% across the FTSE 350. The executive committee and their direct reports in the FTSE 100 include 29% women, while the FTSE 250 reported 26% women on the executive committee and 34% in direct reports. There has also been a notable increase in women holding the Senior Independent Director (SID) role in the FTSE 100, which might set the stage for future growth in women occupying Chair roles??.
In the March 2023 Deloitte FTSE Women Leaders Review, they report that there has been an increase in self-employed women, with their numbers more than doubling from 646,000 in 1984 to 1.6 million in 2020. Despite this growth, men still make up a larger proportion of the self-employed. In 2020, 16% of SME employers were led by women, a slight increase from the previous year. Women-led businesses are most common in the health and education sectors and are least common in the construction, transport and storage, and information and communications sectors.
The economic contribution of women-led SMEs is significant, with these businesses contributing around £85 billion to the annual economic output in the UK. There has been a rise in female entrepreneurship, with 145,200 all-female-led incorporations in 2021, up from 56,200 in 2018??.
