Wales & West Utilities, along with companies and individuals across the world, is celebrating International Women’s Day 2024 by reaffirming its commitment to #InspireInclusion.

The gas emergency and pipeline network is conscious of the traditionally male-dominated roots associated with the gas and wider utility sector and is committed to re-addressing the gender imbalance.

Over the past 10 years the company has focussed on transforming its culture to align more clearly with its core values of: Customer, Pride, Energy and Team, whilst also working to positively remove the stigma of a male-dominated industry and attract more women to the business.

Bethan Jones, Wales & West Utilities Head of People & Engagement, explains:

“We are delighted with the strides we are making to attract as many women into roles as men. Between 2022-23 there’s been an important shift and we’ve been proud to see an increase in female recruits across the business.

“We have great engagement with primary schools, and we firmly believe this is where the journey starts. We are committed to focussing on making operational and STEM careers at Wales & West Utilities, and other under-represented industries, more attractive to women.”

Just two years ago Wales & West Utilities launched its Women’s Inclusion Network which connects colleagues from across the business on a professional and personal level to share life experiences and gain advice and support. This year we joined the Women’s Utility Network to provide further support to our network, whilst also providing opportunities for women within our business and supporting activities across the industry.  We’re proud that our culture is shifting

Bethan continued:

“As a company we want to build an inclusive culture and have a number of equitable people policies which are firmly embedded within the business ranging from family friendly policies, learning and development programmes, inclusion approaches including fertility treatment support and enhanced adoption leave.

“Our objective is to ‘ensure our culture is equitable and inclusive so that everyone feels safe, can be their whole self at work, and is treated with dignity and respect’ and we are delighted that colleagues across the company are reporting that we’re making great strides in this area.

“There’s no denying we are on a significant journey, and we know there is still a way to go.  We are, however, delighted with the important progress we’re making and the direction we are travelling in to help #InspireInclusion.”

International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the economic, and the social – while calling for gender equality. The day has been celebrated since the early 1900s and is now recognised each year on March 8.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night.