It is an interesting comment worthy of reflection given our vibrant and diverse local community, and the duty on public bodies to promote equality and diversity.  Certainly the Borough Council's eight senior managers are exclusively white and male.  Equally, until Bedford College and the Bedford Charity  (Harpur Trust) appointed Claire Smith as the Bedford Academy Head, all our upper schools were led by white males (and still are) despite education being a predominantly female employement sector.

At a local political level things are less stark. Of the ten member Bedford Borough Council cabinet 40% are female, though again it appears to be an all-white team despite so many talented and dedicated elected Black and Asian members.

Bedford College itself could do better.  Our management team is 44% female but only 11% from an ethnic minority background, and the equivalent figures for our appointed governors are 33% and 20%.

Interestingly it is the supposed male bastion of the Police Authority that does best - a Board that looks and feels like the community it serves, definitely showing leadership in this crucial area.

The gender gap may well be addressed by outgoing forums like the wonderful Bedfordshire Businesswomen's Network (www.beds-businesswomen.org) currently headed up  by the indefatigable and highly successful entrepreneur Kerry Cash.

The Further Education sector set up a Network of Black Professionals to encourage more staff from ethnic minorities into senior jobs, with some success.  It would be good to create something similar in Bedford to redress the deficit described above.  The College would be keen to contribute funding and meeting rooms, but is there an appetite for such a network locally? Please let me know and we'll get it started.