UK energy giants form coalition to boost gender diversity

Latest statistics reveal half of the UK’s top 80 energy firms have no women on their boards at all

The heads of eight energy companies, including Shell, ScottishPower and Ørsted, have joined forces to drive up the number of women in leadership roles in the UK industry.

They have launched the Energy Leaders’ Coalition, pledging to boost gender diversity at senior levels and middle management in their companies and in the sector as a whole.

Other firms that have also made the commitment include Good Energy, National Grid, SSE, EDF Energy and innogy Renewables UK.

The announcement comes as latest statistics from the POWERful Women initiative – which campaigns to improve gender diversity – reveal women occupy only 13% of board seats and only 6% of executive board seats in the UK’s top 80 energy firms and half of them have no women on their boards at all.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark welcomed the initiative, stating: “If companies fail to have diversity at the top of their business, they are missing out on the full talent available to them.

“While some energy companies have made progress to improve diversity in the boardroom, we need all companies in this sector to step up. Foresighted initiatives like this new coalition will break down barriers and help ensure that women are not held back and are given equal opportunities in the workplace.”

The Coalition will meet regularly to review their progress, share evidence of what works and plan actions to improve as well as encourage and support others in the sector to accelerate change.

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