It’s International Women’s Day! Here at Environet, we’re reflecting on our journey towards creating a workplace that embraces diversity and champions equality, especially in the traditionally male-dominated fields of invasive plant removal and construction. Since adopting the principles of Employee Ownership (EO) in 2020, we’ve undergone a significant transformation, placing a strong emphasis on valuing all our employees and ensuring that inclusion and equality are core values of our organisation. Environet is fully committed to promoting equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender. We’re proud to own a business where individuals can use their talents without facing discrimination. We base every decision on merit, fostering a culture where every employee has the chance to succeed.
Our statistics tell a compelling story of our commitment to inclusivity. Against the backdrop of the wider industry where, although steadily increasing, women still only make up around 15.8% of the workforce (ONS, 2023), we’re delighted that we’ve attracted female talent into our business, who now make up a quarter of the overall team. Retaining and investing in our employees also meant that in 2017, we were able to promote female representation into our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for the first time.
Before employee ownership, only 14% of our management roles were held by women. We’re delighted that the move to EO, and the subsequent restructuring of our business has enabled a doubling of women in management roles, showcasing our commitment to gender equality and the better utilisation of our talent pool.
“It’s fantastic to see increasing numbers of women joining the invasive weed sector and being recruited into senior positions. I was particularly pleased to see the appointment of Sarah Garry as CEO of the PCA in November 2023, bringing new talent and balance to an almost exclusively male Board. My hope is that as female representation becomes more visible within the sector, younger women will be encouraged to forge a career in the field.” – Emily Grant, Director of Operations
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we take pride in the progress we’ve made but recognise that the wider journey towards equality is still ongoing. We are determined to continue fostering an environment where every employee, regardless of gender, can contribute to their fullest potential. Through our commitment to EO and the principles of inclusion, we are empowering change not just within our organisation but across the broader landscape of gender equality.
