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Supporting Female Staff
The gender pay gap continues to be a major issue across all industries.
A new report reveals that female workers face a worsening situation when it comes to achieving equality and, in the event of deep public spending cuts, female workers will be hardest hit, facing widespread job losses and a reduction in post-retirement income.

The findings come as the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) urges organisations to take steps to protect their female employees and it also follows CMI’s latest Economic Outlook survey which revealed that the relative advantage in job security female managers had over their male colleagues, in April 2009, has now disappeared.

Ruth Spellman, chief executive of the CMI says; “It is a depressing fact that inequality appears to be endemic within the UK workforce and despite the fact that many of our European counterparts have succeeded in tackling the problem, UK organisations are lagging far behind when it comes to taking care of their female staff. There is no shortage of female talent in the UK, but organisations persist in passing over women when it comes to filling the top spots. The proportion of female directors has risen by less than one per cent in the past 12 months and is only five per cent higher than a decade ago.

It is a depressing fact that inequality appears to be endemic within the UK
workforce.
“The gender pay gap continues to be a major issue across all industries and urgently needs addressing. Women are paid less than men at all levels, but at director level, this difference can be as much as 15.6 per cent. Diversity is essential in business, but in organisations where women are poorly paid and their ambitions to reach senior positions thwarted, it is no wonder many are keen to jump ship.

“This is a ridiculous state of affairs. There needs to be a radical shift of attitude in the UK whereby gaps in equal opportunities or pay between men and women are regarded as deeply unfair and utterly unacceptable. We are urging employers to take urgent action to protect their female staff and demonstrate that they are just as valued, and valuable, as their male peers.”

Ruth Spellman’s comments come against a backdrop of figures obtained by the CMI’s recent National Management Salary Survey, showing that at junior level, male pay is increasing at a greater rate than female pay: 5.2% compared with 4.6% respectively - an indication that the gender pay gap is actually increasing.

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.