Costain pledges to support gender equality in the defence and nuclear sectors
NEWS RELEASE
07 March 2023
Costain has expanded its support to advance gender equality in the defence and nuclear industries by becoming a Franklin Partner to Women in Defence UK and a Corporate Partner to Women in Nuclear. The company has also signed the Women in Defence Charter.
Costain was an early signatory to the Women in Nuclear Charter, formed in 2014 to help improve the representation of women in the industry and address gender balance. As a new corporate partner, Costain pledges to remove potential barriers for women in joining the nuclear industry and actively lead the conversation on equality and diversity.
Becoming a signatory of the Women in Defence Charter means that Costain will also play a key role in baselining the current gender balance in the UK defence sector by driving change to support 30% female representation at all levels by 2030. Commitments include supporting the progression of women into senior roles, publicly reporting on progress and providing opportunities for women to thrive. Alongside the Charter, Costain has also become a Franklin Partner, to create a critical mass for change.
Abida Lalani, Director of Strategy and Transformation and Executive Sponsor for Women in Defence and Women in Nuclear commented: “Costain is committed to creating a work culture that promotes, values and celebrates diversity, allowing employees to perform at their best. We’re incredibly proud of our majority female Board at Costain and hope that signing these Charters will inspire women in our business and professional networks, to continue to challenge and push for change.”
Bob Anstey, Defence & Nuclear Sector Director added: “With support from UK Government and fellow signatories, we have an exciting opportunity to inspire and attract women to both the Defence and Nuclear industries. With a strong pipeline of opportunities and a clear purpose to protect the nation and deliver critical national infrastructure, these industries are actively looking for diverse talent.”
Towards the end of last year, Costain also re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant and was acknowledged with the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for its outstanding support of the Armed Forces community.