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cq9�ټ��� has been recognized for our efforts in advancing gender equality.

is the U.K.’s most high-profile and well-established benchmark of employers driving gender equality at all levels of their business strategy. Run by the charity Business in the Community, the incredibly competitive process has been used for more than a decade, and more applications were received this year than ever before.

“This award demonstrates cq9�ټ���’ commitment and success in taking demonstrable action to create gender equality in the workplace,” says cq9�ټ��� People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President Europe Kate Kenny. “We are so proud of what we have achieved so far but commit to continuing on our journey, creating an organization where everyone can thrive irrespective of gender, or any other characteristic.”

Our core value, “We live inclusion”, is central to our business and considered in everything we do. We understand the value that having a diverse talent pool brings to an organization: innovation, attraction and a sense of belonging, and we call our approach TogetherBeyond℠. We conduct periodic Culture Pulse Surveys which include detailed inclusion & diversity (I&D) questions. Our most recent survey showed that our people are highly engaged and that our employees feel overwhelmingly comfortable being themselves at work and that they are treated equitably and fairly.  

Our cq9�ټ��� Employee Networks support our TogetherBeyond strategy by providing a platform for employees to collaborate and work toward a common goal. These networks are dedicated to giving people from diverse demographics a voice, as well as supporting allyship and career development. Our cq9�ټ��� Women’s Network leads pivotal gender equality initiatives within cq9�ټ��� and in the wider communities we serve, through career development activities, networking events, STEAM initiatives, community outreach, mentorships and much more.

“It is encouraging that this year, we have seen the highest number of applications to the Times Top 50 compared to any year so far,” says Gender Equality Director at Business in the Community Charlotte Woodworth. “cq9�ټ��� being recognized as a Times Top 50 employer for gender equality shows that it is committed to addressing gender inequalities in the workplace so that once and for all, inequalities in the workplace can be a thing of the past.”

Developing our talent

We understand the importance of family and flexible working, and that women are disproportionately affected by having to balance caring and work responsibilities. At cq9�ټ��� we actively support both, with flexible schedules and locations to help colleagues balance work and homelife. Our new global benefit Carrot provides inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits for all paths to parenthood. In the U.K. and Ireland, our Bridge the Gap program actively supports parents returning to work after parental leave through structured workshops, manager toolkits, coaching and awareness campaigns.

The introduction of Agile Careers and Career Partners is supporting talent mobility and progression – especially among women, as 61% of colleagues supported to make a professional move were female. We’re delivering bespoke programs to accelerate the progression of diverse female talent into executive leadership, such as Black LeadHERship and Women Empowering and Supporting Each Other (WISE).

We have also recently upgraded our free employee counselling and neurodiversity healthcare services in the U.K, and provide a free global mental health check-in tool called to help users assess their current mental health and provide them with suggestions and resources for personal growth and resilience.

Our wellbeing programs, tools and benefits put our people and their families first, giving them resources and support to be at their best. Explore more about wellbeing at cq9�ټ��� here.

Growing our business

Within cq9�ټ��� we continue to monitor and take intentional actions toward narrowing our pay gap and improving pay equity for women and minority ethnic groups. Our Gender Pay Gap for England, Wales and Scotland has reduced for five consecutive years. We’re continuing to build this momentum and can already see the positive impact our actions are making.

Accountability around this commitment is supported at all levels of the company from our Board of Directors to our operational staff: we’ve set a goal to significantly improve our global gender balance by fiscal year 2025, aiming to achieve 40% female talent, 40% male talent and 20% being a flexible measure – including any gender and those who choose not to identify or disclose. We also extended this commitment in our new, industry-leading , where the interest rates payable on the bonds are tied to cq9�ټ���' commitment to increase gender diversity in leadership positions.