Just 4% of CEOs in FTSE 100 companies are not white, despite the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) community of the UK making up 14% of the population.

The analysis is revealed on the day OUTstanding launches its call for nominations for the EMpower – or Ethnic Minority Power – top 100 BAME Business Leaders and top 30 BAME Future Leaders lists, presented by the Financial Times.

The lists aims to champion ethnic diversity in top business positions globally and mark the expansion of OUTstanding’s membership offering.

Since 2013 OUTstanding has driven cultural change for LGBT+ communities in the workplace and 20% of the FTSE 100 Index are now members.

EMpower aims to replicate this success by empowering BAME leaders and ensuring that companies are inclusive and representative of all groups at all levels of an organisation.

The eminent judging panel includes business executives Ashok Vaswani, CEO Barclays UK; Vivian Hunt, Managing Partner, McKinsey; Nina Vaca, Chairman & CEO, Pinnacle Group; Carola Hoyos, Editor of FT Executive Appointments section, Non-Executive Directors Club; Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever; Linda Yeuh, Global economist, broadcaster and author, Oxford University; and Suki Sandhu, OUTstanding and EMpower CEO and founder.

OUTstanding CEO and founder, Suki Sandhu, said, “Diverse businesses which accurately reflect the communities they serve are going to be the most successful. Despite the progress which has been made, this still not the reality for the UK. EMpower exists to drive the empowerment of ethnic minority employees within corporate organisations.

"Role modelling is fundamental to ensuring equal opportunities and more inclusive cultures so we need anyone who proves ethnicity need not be a barrier to success to come forward to inspire the next generation of BAME leaders.”