< back to case studies page

case study:

Retaining Women at BDO LLP

Background

BDO LLP is the UK's sixth largest accountancy firm. It has enjoyed considerable external recognition by being awarded the Accountancy Age "Employer of the Year" twice and "Global Firm of the Year" in 2006. They were ranked in the Sunday Times “Top 100 companies to Work For” two years running and listed in the “50 Places Women Want to Work.”

Issue

"For some time we have recognised that we are underrepresented by senior females within our organisation," comments Mark Sherfield, Management Executive Partner at BDO. "At graduate entry level, we hit the normal bench marks of 40 to 50 percent. However, this drops dramatically by the time we get to senior manager level."

Objectives

BDO approached ASPIRE at the start of 2006 to create a groundbreaking development initiative that would address this drop-off and help the firm increase female participation at senior and partnership level.

The Values Based Leadership Programme is a 6-month leadership development programme designed to retain women at BDO. Some 210 women from all levels participated, ranging from partners to newly qualifieds, and all regions and offices were represented.

The VBL Programme focuses on personal leadership and seeks to demonstrate how living one's values and playing to one's strengths can support people to be effective and inspirational leaders within BDO LLP.

Results

"The results of the Values Based Leadership programme have been simply quite stunning," says BDO Stoy Hayward’s Mark Sherfield.

Tangible results have included . . .

• A significant number of women retained (who were going to leave and now who are not going to as a result of the programme, representing significant cost and knowledge savings to the firm
• Improved client, boss, team relationships
• Personal and career development (getting promoted, feeling more motivated)
• Work/life balance improvements
• Leadership development, developing leadership style and approach
• Improved confidence and assertiveness

Much pioneering work has been done by women who completed the VBL: one female tax manager recently went on a 12-month secondment to the BDO New York office, being the first woman ever in her department to second to the States. "For the first time I realised what I really wanted and I now have the confidence to go for it. That would definitely not have been possible without the VBL," she commented.

Some attendees confirmed that they had seriously considered leaving BDO LLP but after having started their VBL Programme felt inspired to change their minds and circumstances; in fact, many participants discovered new ways of working, re-defining their roles, and experiencing more job satisfaction.

"Aspire has helped us develop a programme called Values Based Leadership, the results of which have been simply quite stunning. Over 100 female managers and partners have attended the course in the last 6 months and the feedback has been incredibly positive. Reports of increased self-confidence, clearer vision in terms of building and progressing careers means a greater chance that these people will stay with us. That is very positive for them as individuals as for us as a business. A win:win."
Mark Sherfield, Management Executive Partner, BDO LLP

"Simply the best programme I have ever been on."
Sylvia Ross, Head of Cultural Development, BDO LLP

“(The Values Based Leadership programme for BDO LLP) is like red bull; it gave me wings and I'm ready to fly . . .”
Andrea Pattico, HR Manager, BDO LLP

“An amazing opportunity - an inspiring course which helped me to focus in terms of vision, goals and actions to implement. It also helped me realise personal core values and see how they juxtapose with BDO values.”
Liz Prendergast, Corporate Finance Research Analyst, BDO LLP

“The programme has enabled me to re-focus on what is important to me, which has made life in general seem much more worthwhile. My work-life balance is now much better which has given me more energy and made me noticeably happier.”
Helen Friend, Senior Tax Manager, BDO LLP