Construction players named in top 50 employers for gender equality 2024

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Outreach charity Business in the Community (BITC) has been running The Times Top 50 for 14 years, as part of its gender equality work, which focuses on equality for all genders and those who do not identify as a gender.

BITC said the organisations featured in the list have taken a proactive approach to stamp out inequalities in their workplaces by creating action plans to address disparities ranging from pay to progression.

The firms that have been included in this year’s list are:

• Aecom
• Anglo American
• AtkinsRéalis
• Costain
• Jacobs
• National Grid
• Network Rail
• Pwc
• Wilmott Dixon

Applicants were assessed on the work they do to remove gender inequalities in the workplace, including flexible working, family friendly policies, pay, reward and progression at work.

Business in the Community gender equality director Charlotte Woodworth said: “Being named as a Times Top 50 employer for gender equality demonstrates [the companies’] commitment to driving a more equitable, inclusive world.

“But while the employers who made the list are doing great work prioritising gender equality, there is still more work to do.

“From addressing pay disparities to better supporting those with caring responsibilities, many employees, women among them, still face barriers to finding employment and progressing in their careers.

“It is every employer’s responsibility to play their part in reducing and removing gender inequalities from the workplace, and research shows this isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes business sense.”

AtkinsRéalis UK & Ireland president Richard Robinson said: “Being recognised as a top employer for gender equality reflects our efforts to champion diversity and reinforce an inclusive working environment at every level of the business.

“We’ve looked at every aspect of our business, from how we recruit and retain talent to the policies and benefits we offer and the way we shine a light on issues affecting women in the workplace to the benefit of all our employees.

“This is a traditionally male-dominated sector and achieving gender equality needs a long-term commitment from across the industry.

“It’s also crucial to promoting innovation and delivering the best solutions for our clients: we need to attract, retain and promote top talent from all backgrounds to help engineer a better future for our planet and its people.”

Costain chief people and sustainability officer Catherine Warbrick said: “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in improving gender equality and we place a genuine emphasis on the importance of increasing diversity across the organisation.

“We know that by having a diverse workforce, that’s representative of wider society, we’ll be able to deliver infrastructure solutions that improve people’s lives in a more impactful way.

“By appreciating and celebrating our differences, we’re creating a more dynamic, progressive and inclusive workplace for our people.

“We’ll continue to drive the equality agenda forward, identifying and implementing ways to attract and retain diverse talent whilst ensuring we’re helping our people achieve their career aspirations.”

Jacobs director Melissa Godfray said:“At Jacobs, we intentionally integrate equality into our daily operations and empower our people to thrive and contribute.

“For example, we enhanced a number of our wellbeing benefits, including introducing a new partnership with [global fertility care platform] Carrot to bring employees free inclusive fertility healthcare, family forming benefits for all paths to parenthood, and menopause and low testosterone benefits and support.

“We’re proud of the progress we have made so far, however we acknowledge we still have work to do as we continue our journey.”

Aecom Europe and India chief executive Colin Wood said: “This recognition is testament to the hard work, determination and commitment of our teams to embed strategic, positive change at Aecom.

“For our industry, gender inequality is an ongoing issue that we need to collectively address. We know we are not yet where we should be and we’re focused on continuing progress.

“But, to have our commitment and action recognised by UK’s most well-established listing is something to celebrate.”

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