DfT recognised for gender equality commitment

The Department for Transport (DfT) has been announced as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women for its work on gender equality.

Run by the charity Business in the Community, The Times Top 50 Employers for Women is the UK’s most high-profile listing of employers striving for gender equality in the workplace.

The recognition was for DfT's work to improve the recruitment of women, secure a more diverse talent pipeline and promote flexible working and an inclusive culture. Examples include:

• mandating gender decoders to ensure the language in job adverts does not deter women from applying
• working across the transport industry to encourage more women and girls into STEM roles
• upskilling line managers to support the wellbeing of their staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

"Being recognised for our gender equality work is a fantastic achievement, especially given we work in a historically male-dominated sector," said Bernadette Kelly, DfT Permanent Secretary. "DfT is committed to becoming a more inclusive employer and I hope in the year ahead we can make even more progress on gender equality as we build on the work this accolade recognises."

The award also reflects the extensive efforts of DfT’s Gender Equality Network – a staff network with nearly 1,000 members dedicating volunteer time to supporting initiatives such as a domestic abuse charter, menopause support group and mental health and resilience support for all staff.