DIVERSITY in boardrooms was on the agenda as the region’s business leaders gathered in Southampton.

The role of women at business director level was the main focal point at the Business Solent networking event at the Mercure Dolphin Hotel in High Street.

A total of 28 businesses and organisations were represented at the Daily Echo-backed event, which featured speakers and a chance to discuss the topics raised over lunch.

The event was introduced by Sally Lynskey, chief executive of Business Solent, who told the audience there was “still considerable room for improvement” for the involvement of women at board level.

Leslie Spiers, managing director of consultancy firm Boardroom Dynamics, presented a number of statistics that showed female involvement in business is increasing and strengthening.

He said there has been a 24 per cent increase in female directors of firms since 2007, adding more women aged between 30 and 59 are running businesses than men.

Women also need to undertake more director development courses, and directors must be approved on merit, Mr Spiers added.

Sue Thomas, managing director of Southampton-based PR firm LeePeckGroup, warned women are not doing as well as men in senior positions across the country, and said companies in the FTSE 100 have a small amount of women within them.

Steph Conrad, partnership director at Capita, explained how her firm employs an “eclectic mix” of employees from varying backgrounds and abilities to achieve success.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Deborah McSorley, from accountancy firm BDO, said: “It’s important to understand that this is an issue still in this day and age.

“There is a general embracing of diversity, but there is still work to do at the top end of director level.”

Hendry Taylor, of the Institute of Directors Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “A lot of people miss the value that women can add in the boardroom.

“Often things can be looked at from a different perspective and that’s really invaluable.

“There are quite a lot of women in senior positions – look at Hampshire County Council and businesses in the region.

“There are a lot of women who are a success.”