BGEN outlines commitment to recruit, retain and support more female employees

• Women’s forum created to drive change across the business
• Enhanced adoption, maternity, and shared parental leave packages launched to support DEI
• The company has signed up to an industry-backed ‘Inspiring Women’ pledge

BGEN has outlined plans to support the recruitment and retention of female employees across the business. Central to the company’s commitment is the creation of a women’s forum to drive meaningful change across the business. At the same time, the company has launched enhanced adoption, maternity, and shared parental leave packages, and signed up to the industry-backed ‘Inspiring Women’ pledge, to help create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

Women are underrepresented in our industry, and while we may not be able to fix this problem overnight, we’re determined to play our part. We have talented female employees across our business, and with their help, we’re keen to make our business a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.

Robin Whitehead, chief executive officer

The BGEN women’s forum has been established to identify and fully understand attitudes around women in engineering as well as looking at issues regarding representation of women in the wider industry. The forum is open to all female employees.

One key outcome of the women’s forum to date has seen BGEN launch enhanced packages for adoption, maternity, and shared parental leave. Eligible employees will now receive 29 weeks on full pay, followed by 10 weeks on statutory pay. This is a significant uplift on the industry standard package of six week on 90% full pay, followed by 33 weeks on statutory pay. In addition, the packages include optional paid ‘keep in touch’ meetings and a phased introduction back to work.

We believe these enhanced packages are at the forefront of what companies in our industry are offering their employees. In determining these enhanced packages, we looked at the support offered by other leading national and international companies outside of our industry.

Michelle Stott, HR Director

To support BGEN’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, BGEN has also signed up to the industry-backed Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Pledge. The Pledge is a commitment from organisations to strive for a more inclusive industry, improve business environments for women and champion equal representation on boards.