Centrica and National Grid among top employers for gender equality

Centrica and National Grid have been listed as two of the UK’s best employers for gender equality.

The firms were named on the Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list compiled annually by The Times.

The list recognises companies who have committed to gender equality in the workplace.

The criteria for inclusion in the list are wide-ranging and include having a proactive approach to stamping out inequality.

Applicants were assessed on their policies, such as their approach to flexible working, support for families, pay, reward, and progression at work.

Kat Parsons, diversity, equity and inclusion lead at Centrica, said: “I’m incredibly proud that Centrica has been recognised in the Times Top 50 for Gender Equality 2024.

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace across the entire organisation. We want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive.”

Natalie Edwards, chief diversity officer at National Grid, added: “We know that if we are to be part of delivering a clean, fair and affordable energy future, we need to attract, hire and retain people from diverse backgrounds, who can bring different lived experiences and perspectives. Improving the sector’s record on gender diversity is key to this. That’s why National Grid is committed to doing all that we can to work to being amongst the most diverse, equitable and inclusive companies of the 21st century and to being a pioneer in this space.

“We are proud to have once again been recognised for our ongoing efforts to promote gender diversity and equality across our business, and will keep working to make further progress still.”

Five engineering firms who work in the energy and water sectors were also named on the list, including Aecom, Atkins, Costain, Jacobs and Willmott Dixon.

Earlier this week, the utilities sector was identified as the best performing sector when it comes to having women in the four most senior roles.

A WB Directors report reveals that 80% of listed utilities have at least one woman in the four positions identified as “key roles” – chief executive, chief financial officer, chair and senior independent director.

The report analyses all listed companies on the FTSE All-Share (made up from the FTSE350 and the Small Cap) as well as AIM listed companies.

Scrutiny on meeting the target of having one female employee in the four top positions has only applied to the FTSE350, however WB Directors is calling for it to be extended beyond that remit.

Despite this, the number of women working in the energy sector continues to lag behind both the wider utilities sector overall and the UK average.

According to the latest figures from Energy and Utility Skills’ 2023 Inclusion Measurement Framework, women make up only 27.5% of the participating organisations’ workforces.

This compares to 30% female representation across industry as a whole, and 35% in the water sector.

These figures are far behind the overall UK workforce, of which women make up 48%.

Utility Week and Womens Utilities Network (WUN) earlier this year announced the launch of the Women in Utilities Awards, celebrating the achievements of women in utilities and the organisations and individuals that support them. The winners will be announced at a lunch and networking ceremony at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on 27 June.