Gender Equality in Finance in 2024

It's March...already...

That means I'm back with another edition of my newsletter, and this month, I'm focusing on a theme that resonates very closely to me—gender diversity and the pivotal role of women in finance.?

Later this week, we'll celebrate International Women's Day, so there is no better timing to reflect, celebrate, and amplify the achievements and challenges faced by women in the mortgage industry, and the wider financial world.?

In this edition, I'm excited to bring you:

• Highlights from my latest blog post: "Women in Finance – How to Attract and Retain Talent," This is essential reading for anyone committed to enhancing diversity and equity within their teams.
• A full video podcast between Marcus Nanson and Sarah Tucker (The Mortgage Mum). Sarah is an inspiration for aspiring women in our industry.? In this pod, she shares invaluable insights for anybody navigating the mortgage industry?
• Get to know Vikki Huggins, one of our most experienced and fun team members at NRG.
• 2024 Salary Guide for Mortgage Brokers. This indispensable tool provides the latest trends, data, and salary expectations in the mortgage industry, helping you navigate the year ahead with confidence.

Let's dive in…

Have you got yours yet…?

Are you on track with your earnings as a mortgage broker? Or are you curious about the right compensation for your team? As we step into a promising new year, it's the perfect time to find out.

We're excited to offer you our latest eBook, "The UK Mortgage Broker Salary Guide" This essential guide provides detailed insights into the earning potential of mortgage brokers across the UK, from entry-level to top-tier positions.

Don't miss this opportunity to benchmark your or your team's salary against industry standards.

?? Get Your Copy of The UK Mortgage Broker Salary Guide Here and start aligning your career or business goals with real-world data today!

5 Strategies to Attract and Retain Women in Finance 2024

In the fast-paced world of finance, achieving gender diversity is a necessity for innovation and success.?

Yet, the finance sector faces ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining female talent, especially in leadership roles and this is all despite data proving that teams with gender diversity are 21% more likely to outperform their competitors.

As we look forward to the rest of 2024 and beyond, addressing this imbalance is imperative.?

In my latest blog, "5 Strategies to Attract and Retain Women in Finance 2024", I share 5 targeted strategies to draw women into finance.

Here’s a quick summary of the key points, for the full post, click the link above (or below).

1. Redefining Recruitment Adverts: Recruit objectively, create job descriptions with inclusive language that echoes female values like collaboration and community, ensuring qualifications are fair and not overly restrictive.?

2. Embracing Flexible Working: Flexibility is essential, not optional. Offering and respecting flexible working arrangements supports all employees, particularly working parents, helping retain female talent without forcing a choice between career and personal life.

3. Making Female Role Models Visible: Showcase the achievements of women within your organisation to inspire and motivate. Visible role models in leadership positions reinforce a sense of belonging and potential for women in finance - like the Mortgage Mum pod shared in the next section.

4. Promoting Mentorship and Career Development: Establishing support programs tailored for women, with backing from leaders across genders, can have a profound impact on career advancement and leadership preparation.

5. Addressing Unconscious Bias: Implement training and HR technology to ensure hiring, promotions, and evaluations are equitable. Understanding and mitigating unconscious bias paves the way for a genuinely inclusive workplace.

Gender diversity isn't a metric, it's a fundamental building block of any successful business with long term goals in mind.?

For the complete insights and detailed strategies, click here to read the full blog post.

Mortgage Broker Lunchtime Insights with Sarah Tucker

As it is International Women’s Day this week and the focus of my newsletter is gender equality and attracting more women into finance, I thought that there would be no better podcast to share, than this from the NRG insights pod, Marcus Nanson CeMAP interviews the inspirational, Mortgage Mum herself, Sarah Tucker

Sarah has appeared on all the major TV networks, BBC, ITV, Sky, and a couple of years ago, the NRG YouTube channel too. She’s a hugely inspirational and influential women in finance, and I couldn’t think of a more suitable pod to share.?

Watch the video above, or view it on YouTube here.

Get to Know: Vikki Huggins

Vikki Huggins is an experienced recruiter with over 16 years experience in the industry. She has worked within a wide range of sectors including Commercial, IT & Financial Service, and is NRG’s go to for our London based business, with her wide network of candidates and clients.

When she is not busy helping brokers, Vikki loves to spend time with her husband, two children and pooch Frankie.?

Here are a few more questions to help you get to know her better:?

What's the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had??

• When I worked in Greece I was painted from the neck down (as a mermaid) and had to do a contemporary dance on live TV...very embarrassing!

What would the title of your autobiography be?

• I probably shouldn't but I will anyway!

If you had to have one, what would be your spirit animal? And why??

• A Butterfly. It moves through different life cycles, is perseverant and social.

Another chance…

?? Get Your Copy of The UK Mortgage Broker Salary Guide Here and start aligning your career or business goals with real-world data today!

What Next?

Thank you for reading! I’ll be back soon with the next edition.?

Don’t forget to subscribe, and if you’re seeking a new role, or are searching for new talent, please click on the appropriate link to book a call with me today.?