Eleven Northern Ireland businesses have been awarded Bronze Gender Diversity Charter Marks.
The accolade is for their commitment to advancing gender diversity in the workplace.
Businesses who received the Bronze Charter mark include: Allstate NI, Alexander Mann Solutions, Belfast City Council, Danske Bank, Gilbert-Ash Ltd, Homecare Independent Living, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Progressive Building Society, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank and Sensata Technologies Inc.
Diversity Mark NI Ltd, was set up by Women in Business to deliver the Charter Mark. It is the first of its kind and awards organisations for their commitment to progress on gender diversity.
Business who have been recognised have committed to addressing areas of unequal gender representation at all levels, removing obstacles faced by women at key points of career development, implementing structural and cultural changes that will help advance gender diversity, and putting in place a strategy and action plan to affect change.
Nichola Robinson, Chair of Diversity Mark NI, Director at Bombardier said these organisations within their applications have shown a real commitment to implementing inclusive growth and cultural shifts within the workplace.
“The Charter has enabled organisations to identify and reflect on institutional barriers facing women which impact progression on the career ladder. Through this, organisations have also taken steps to progress the overall diversity and equality agenda and improve the working environment for all employees,” she added.
And Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive at Women in Business said it appointed male gender diversity champions who, together with Women in Business, have delivered the Diversity Mark NI. And she’s encouraging other organisations to sign up.
“We are inspired and reassured that such impressive progress has been made over the past year. I would encourage other innovative and progressive organisations to sign up, not only will they be doing the right thing, there is a correlation between gender diverse companies and better bottom line results,” she added.
Organisations can sign up to the Charter at www.diversity-mark-ni.co.uk.
