The gender pay gap at the very top of the UK’s largest housing associations jumped over the past year.

 

Inside Housing’s annual chief executive salary survey, published last week, reveals that just 22 of the 100 biggest organisations by stock are run by women, who, on average, were paid nearly £10,000 less than their male counterparts in 2012/13.

Female chief executives received average total pay packets of £159,844 in 2012/13, while male chief executives received an average of £169,771.

In 2011/12 , when 18 female chief executives were surveyed, the gender pay gap stood at £5,905. Female housing heads took home an average total salary of £157,798 and male bosses received an average of £163,703. Total salaries include chief executives’ basic salaries, car allowances and bonuses.

The survey also showed that the rise in male chief executives’ salaries is outpacing that of their female peers. Between 2011/12 and 2012/13, male chief executives’ salaries rose by an average of 3.5 per cent, whereas for the 18 female chief executives who supplied their salary information for both financial years, pay went up by 2.8 per cent.

Our research shows that female bosses are also losing out on performance-related pay. In 2012/13 the average bonus pocketed by male chief executives was £6,328, whereas female bosses received an average of £2,631.

Nicola Dibb, co-founder of business and support network Women In Social Housing, said: ‘The figures seem to reflect the general trend in the UK whereby organisations, whether public or private, are managed mainly by men and there seems to be no impetus for change.

‘It is clear from our members that, as you look at more senior roles the number of women gets less and less.’

One female housing association chief said: ‘It is well known that females tend to push pay less than males… It is therefore important that boards and remuneration committees recognise that and ensure there is effective pay benchmarking.’

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of 33,636-home Anchor, was the highest paid female chief executive and second overall highest paid chief executive in 2012/13 with a total salary of £329,600, including a £28,600 bonus.