15 April 2011

University named as one of the country’s top employers for women

The University has been ranked as one of the top 50 employers for women in the UK.

The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list judged organisations by what they were doing internally as a top employer for women, and externally what they were doing to promote wider gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

The University is recognised, in part, for its Futures Programme, a mentoring scheme designed to help female academics interested in pursuing senior governance and leadership roles. The scheme, which started last year, has proven to be of great interest to many academic colleagues. The organisers were inundated with applications, and all the available spaces have been filled for the programme’s second year of operation.

Professor Tony Ryan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science and Chair of the University’s Equality and Diversity Board, which runs the Futures Programme, said: “In order that our University is as good as it can be, everyone who works in it needs to realise their potential. If we have more female role models then hopefully we will be able to stop the loss of women from the system.”

The University was also recognised for the events it organises each year to promote the work of women at the institution. In March this year the University held a week of events to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day, including talks, seminars and films. In addition the University has a number of schemes, run by the Department of Human Resources, which aim to help female staff in furthering their careers.

Andrew Dodman, Director of Human Resources, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list. This recognition will motivate us further in our commitment to develop a talented and diverse University community.”

The University is one of only two higher education institutions on the list. Other organisations featured include Google, the Royal Air Force and Santander UK plc.