A South West business leader is urging companies to 鈥渄ismantle the barriers鈥 hindering women in the workplace as the 海角视频 marks International Women鈥檚 Day.

Sado Jirde, director of Bristol-based racial justice organisation Black South West Network, believes collective action is needed to make sure women have the same access to opportunities as men.

鈥淎s a Black, Muslim woman leading a racial justice organisation, International Women's Day resonates deeply with me, not only for its symbolic importance but also for its economic implications,鈥 she said.

鈥淚nternational Women's Day is a catalyst for economic transformation. It prompts us to confront the stark realities of gender inequality in the workforce, where women, particularly those of marginalised identities, face barriers to equal opportunity and fair compensation.鈥

International Women鈥檚 Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and takes place every year on March 8.

Ms Jirde said this year鈥檚 theme of 鈥榠nspire inclusion鈥 highlighted the 鈥渆conomic imperative鈥 of creating workplaces that are diverse and inclusive.

鈥淩esearch consistently shows that companies with diverse leadership teams outperform their less diverse counterparts financially,鈥 she said. 鈥淏y harnessing the talents and perspectives of women from all backgrounds, businesses can drive innovation, foster creativity, and gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.鈥

Slow progress is being made when it comes to gender parity on the boards of the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest companies. A recent government-backed report revealed the number of women on FTSE-350 boards has risen to 42% but there are still 鈥渢oo few鈥 women chief executives in the FTSE 100.

Burberry was ranked top by the FTSE Women Leaders Review, with 55.2% female representation on its board, followed by Marks & Spencer (51.3%), Next (50.6%) and National Grid (48.7%).

Ms Jirde believes inclusive workplaces, such as these, promote better staff engagement, retention and productivity. She added: 鈥淲hen every woman feels valued, respected, and empowered in her workplace, she is more likely to contribute her full potential, leading to greater profitability and sustainable growth.鈥