Collecting and monitoring the sector’s workforce diversity data has taken a step in the right direction. The Inclusion Commitment has developed an inclusion measurement framework to support employers collecting and monitoring their workforce diversity data. The recently published Workforce Renewal & Skills Strategy 2020-2025, highlights the need for employers to ensure that their workforce is reflective of the communities that they serve.
The utilities sector has been criticised for its lack of diversity and recognises it is not where it needs to be in terms of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
The Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy 2020 – 2025 facilitated by the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership states three strategic priorities to address the sector’s workforce and skills challenges. One of these priorities focuses on ‘Sector attractiveness, recruitment and workforce diversity.’ More details on these priorities can be found in the strategy document.
The strategy recognises that the energy and utilities sector’s workforce diversity is below the UK averages for gender, BAME and disability and commits to embed diversity and inclusion into the core of the sector’s workforce strategy. As one of its priorities to achieve this, the sector is preparing to measure and be transparent about progress as individual organisations and as a sector.
Launching this month, the Energy & Utilities Inclusion Measurement Framework has been created by the sector in partnership with equality, diversity and inclusion experts The Equal Group.
The sector framework measures inclusion across the themes of Leadership, Attraction & Recruitment, Retention and Progression. Reporting at sector, industry, regional and organisational levels, these measures will aid the sector in identifying where in the employment lifecycle the real issues on inclusion lie. The results from the measurement framework will be available in November.
Louise Parry, Director of People at Energy & Utility Skills outlines,
“As one of the Energy & Utilities Inclusion Commitment priorities the measurement framework enables employers to collate data to determine their starting point. The results will provide a baseline measure to determine clear actions for the sector and participating companies in working towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the communities they serve”
With the window for submitting data opening from 21 September, Energy & Utilities employers have the opportunity to participate in this inaugural sector measurement framework at a cost of only £325.
For further information or to participate in the Energy & Utilities Framework, employers can contact Louise Parry on louise.parry@euskills.co.uk.
The Inclusion Commitment also recently launched a webinar series as part of its commitment to collaboration. The series focuses on the sharing of best practice to address the sector diversity and inclusion challenges. You can sign up or watch previous webinars here.