News / Women in Business
‘We want Bristol to be the first city to achieve gender equality’
Employers have a huge part to play in achieving the ambition of gender equality, say those on a mission to make it a reality.
A free event to mark two years since the launch of the Bristol Women in Business Charter will focus on bringing people and companies together to accelerate the pace of change in the city.
It will feature guest speaker Jenna Holliday, a gender specialist advising on policy and programming who regularly provides technical support to UN and international development agencies, as well as Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire.
There will also be findings from the first annual report since a community interest company was established to operate the charter on April 1 last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_jWb4-EFU
The charter has a number of ambitions, including an ultimate goal of making Bristol the first city to achieve gender equality.
“We recognise that employers have a huge part to play in achieving this vision and that many businesses in Bristol want to make progress on gender equality,” says Sandra Gordon, the director of Bristol’s Women in Business Charter.
“By recognising, supporting and bringing together those employers who are making or want to make progress, we believe we will accelerate the pace of change and make gender equality a reality.
“Our ambition is for all businesses employing people in the Bristol area, regardless of their size, to sign the charter and work together to make gender equality the way we do business in Bristol.”
Gordon says much progress has already been made in the last year.
Charter goals include:
- The promotion and availability of flexible and part-time working, especially at senior levels that attract higher levels of pay and conditions.
- A commitment to increase the number of women at senior levels and on the board.
- Making at least one member of the senior executive team responsible for reporting on gender equality and inclusion.
- Encouraging and supporting female employees in lower paid and lower skilled occupations to progress through the organisation, through appropriate training and other ongoing support.
- A commitment to close the gender pay gap.
- A focus on implementing recruitment, appraisal, personal development and promotion processes that are non-discriminatory towards women and are free from unconscious bias.
- Supporting women where they are under-represented, through mentoring and women’s networks.
Gordon adds: “In the current climate, now more than ever, we need to ensure that the progression that has been made towards a balanced workforce does not start to go backwards.
“We look forward to welcoming all employers to be part of a group of businesses who want to see systemic change happen towards gender equality for all.”
All attendees will receive a digital copy of the report at the end of the event.
Further information and registration is available via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-bristol-women-in-business-charters-anniversary-event-tickets-141843368333.
Main photo courtesy of Sandra Gordon
Read more: Women, work and Covid-19 – building a fairer future for Bristol
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