A record 400 firms have signed up to the Treasury-backed Women in Finance Charter but 14 firms have left the scheme as progress slows.

The Openwork Partnership, one of the UK’s largest financial advice networks, has relaunched its annual women in financial services conference as the network restarts face to face events.

Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc has been appointed as the Treasury’s new Women in Finance Charter Champion to replace Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia who is stepping down.

The Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 set back the progress of women at middle and senior levels in financial services firms with 30% of Women in Finance Charter members missing their targets.