EDF Energy and Shell are the only two energy firms to be included in the Top 50 list for employing women.

The ‘Times Top 50 Employers for Women’ names businesses that have shown gender equality as a key part of their strategy by creating workplaces that are inclusive of women from entry level through to senior leadership.

Fiona Jackson, Head of Strategic Resourcing at EDF Energy said: “To recruit and retain the best and most diverse talent, we know that creating a culture of inclusion is fundamental. Our employees and networking groups have been at the forefront of driving change and we’re delighted that their efforts have been formally recognised.

“There is still plenty of work to be done. Given the STEM recruitment challenges that we face as an industry, we are focusing on innovative ways to appeal to more diverse talent in order to expand our recruitment pool.”

According to a report, the number of women in the global power and utilities sector in board positions has risen by only 1% in the last three years.