Frances Dickens, Author at Elite Business Magazine

Frances Dickens

EB cover star Dickens set up Astus Group more than 10 years ago and it is now the UK’s biggest media barter company, working with over 200 major brands and almost all media owners. Frances pioneered a new approach to business through Astus, placing accountability, transparency, integrity and delivery on promises as central values. As an experienced entrepreneur, Frances has strong views on good business practice, including issues of sustainability, equality and the role of government in supporting the business community.

A change is (still) gonna come

Frances Dickens

Jun 21 '17

In her final column for us, Astus CEO Frances Dickens takes a look back at two years of progress in advancing the representation of women in British business

Femininity is not your weakness

Frances Dickens

May 17 '17

Following a social-media experiment into how male and female scientists are treated on Twitter, Frances Dickens argues women shouldn’t hide their femininity in order to be taken seriously

Could forcing firms to report on their gender pay gaps backfire?

Frances Dickens

Apr 19 '17

Frances Dickens explores whether the effect of the new law requiring businesses to publish details of their gender pay gaps will be as progressive as is claimed

Why businesses should embrace the apprenticeship levy

Frances Dickens

Mar 15 '17

Many British businesses are still unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the new scheme set to launch in April. But more companies taking on apprentices will have untold benefits

How female entrepreneurs under 35 are redressing the gender balance

Frances Dickens

Feb 20 '17

While there is a far more equitable gender balance amongst young entrepreneurs, role models and mentors are still the key to finally closing the gap

2016: looking back on women’s achievements

Frances Dickens

Jan 13 '17

From Hillary Clinton’s presidential race to The Philippines’ new transgender politician, Frances Dickens shares her pick of the women who blazed a trail

Finding your way as a female entrepreneur

Frances Dickens

Nov 23 '16

Getting ahead as a woman in the startup can be difficult without a roadmap. Fortunately Astus Group’s CEO Frances Dickens is here to share her five top tips for female entrepreneurs

Apprentices are so much more than plumbers’ mates and Lord Sugar acolytes

Frances Dickens

Oct 26 '16

For the sake of our young people and our economy, it’s time we all reassess apprenticeships, says Astus CEO Frances Dickens

Why supporting families and shared parental leave makes business sense

Frances Dickens

Sep 21 '16

Encouraging shared parental leave is one way that media industry employers can help keep women in their workforce. So why aren’t more dads taking part?

What women’s Olympic triumphs can teach the world of business

Frances Dickens

Aug 25 '16

Following the shining example set by Rio 2016, UK plc would do well to take a cue from the meritocracy of athletics and bring more women to the fore

Cometh the hour, cometh the women

Frances Dickens

Aug 2 '16

The feminisation of boardrooms can only help companies navigate the choppy Brexit waters

Learning from the businesses bringing more women onto their boards

Frances Dickens

Jun 27 '16

Board-level diversity isn’t so hard to achieve, says Frances Dickens, CEO of Astus Group. Recent moves by Twitter, Pinterest and Aviva show that senior executives can see they have everything to gain