In the News
Most inclusive engineering employers
08 October 2024
The Engineer's 2024 Top Employers survey just released offers key insights on what makes an attractive engineering employer.
For this year's report The Engineer joined forces with Echo’s Britain's Most Admired Companies study to identify some of Britain's most inclusive engineering employers. Organisations topping this list include ARUP, National Grid and Spirax-Sarco.
Participants in this survey - financial analysts, peers, and industry experts - assess companies across various sectors based on key criteria such as innovation, management performance, corporate governance, financial performance, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).
Commenting on this year’s findings - and specifically what they tell us about engineering employers' DE&I profiles, Sandra Macleod, Group CEO of Echo Research and Britain’s Most Admired Companies said: “Many companies are recognised for their clear dedication to DE&I, particularly in an industry where males dominate. They are implementing robust employment policies and programmes, such as initiatives for ethnic minority interns, to promote inclusivity.”
Amongst a number of observations made by the study, effective leadership is highlighted as critical in driving cultural change towards inclusivity, with CEOs and new leadership teams are often noted for actively promoting DE&I within their organisations.
Several companies in the engineering space are noted for being among the top performers in DE&I efforts, and - reinforcing the growing understanding that positive action on diversity goes hand in hand with success - these are often some of the best performing companies from a financial perspective. “Companies that excel in DE&I are often financially stable, with strong balance sheets and sound business practices,” said Macleod, “suggesting that good governance and financial health can coexist with commitment to social responsibility.”
Nevertheless, while many engineering companies demonstrate a commitment to DE&I, some are criticised for lacking progress, poor communication, and inadequate diversity within management teams. “Overall, our feedback reflects a recognition that while real progress is being made, there remains a significant opportunity for growth in DE&I across the engineering sector as a whole,” added Macleod.
One top performer identified by this year’s report is engineering consultancy Arup Group. “It’s brilliant to see Arup’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion recognised by such an important study.” Said Paula Walsh, Chair of Arup in the UK, India, Middle East and Africa. “We are a caring and curious organisation striving to create a culture where our people feel that they belong and can deliver excellence for our clients and communities.”
Read the full report from The Engineer's newly released 2024 Top Employers supplement here.
