Morrisons plans to double the number of women in senior management roles over the next three years.

Women currently represent just 13% of the supermarket’s senior management group – a proportion Morrisons aims to grow to 30% by 2014.

The Bradford-based retailer has set up a steering group to identify opportunities for women to move up the business and is providing mentoring for 300 female staff. Talent director Toni Eastwood will oversee the scheme.

Morrisons also said it would be “inviting” its suppliers to promote more women to senior roles.

Earlier this year Morrisons announced the capture of Belinda Youngs (pictured) from Canadian retailer Sobeys as own-brand director. Other senior women at the busines include Lisa Miao, commercial director of chilled food, and retail programmes director Sylvia Jones.

“We have a long way to go to meet our aspiration but we believe we are honestly facing this issue and setting out to fix it,” said group HR director Norman Pickavance.

Chief executive Dalton Philips added: “This will make us a better business and we want to see more women in senior management and on our board.

“As one of the largest employers in the UK, Morrisons believes we should be at the forefront of best practice and are delighted to launch our plans and activities for the next three years. We recognise that we have much to do so we’re setting ourselves tough initial targets to achieve better female representation.”

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