Keeping gender on the agenda

This month, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we joined WISE, the campaign for gender balance in STEM, and 20 other organisations in signing a joint statement to ensure that we pool our resources in order to continue to drive gender equality – now more than ever.

The five actions we are jointly taking to make a difference are:

1. Telling positive stories about the way women are making a difference during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
   
   
2. Keeping connected to STEM women whilst on furlough, working from home, caring for children or relatives and whilst their workplaces, schools, colleges and universities are closed. We will need their skills to help the economy bounce back
   
   
3. Addressing STEM skills shortages by providing women at risk of losing their jobs access to online technical training
   
   
4. Monitoring gender impact of decisions about employment, education and caring roles during the pandemic to ensure women are not disproportionately affected
5. Embracing new ways of working to transform our organisations for the long-term; including flexibility, online meetings, reduced travel which improve inclusion, productivity, health and well-being and benefit the environment.

This joint effort will ensure that we continue to engage, nurture, grow and understand the important contribution of women in science, technology and engineering in the UK, now and for the future.

The full letter is available on the WISE webpages.