Diversity

A recent report “Diversity in the Energy and Utility
Sector” (April 2008) commissioned by Energy & Utility
Skills highlighted a range of diversity related issues
and opportunities for the power sector including:

• The sector is almost invisible to prospective employees.
• All the participating organisations were facing similar
  challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining
  a more diverse workforce. This includes attracting more females,
  young people, people from ethnic minorities and people with disability. The sector is only just starting to consider other diversity issues such as sexual orientation and religion or belief.
• Not all participating companies had clear diversity policies and strategies in place. Few of them set targets or monitored against them. A key first step to support this is understanding the diversity of the existing employee base.
• Attraction is a key issue for the sector however a key lesson from other companies was to ensure that they had their retention activity in place before investing large amounts in attraction campaigns and activity.
• To build the sector to be truly attractive to a more diverse workforce will take commitment, investment and time. There are quick wins, but they are limited and people will quickly see through action that is not based sound foundations.
• Although some companies are further ahead, collectively the sector is at the start of its diversity journey. In an environment where skills and talent are in short supply the challenge will continue to be how the sector can work collaboratively to share experiences and learning whilst not undermining individual organisations competitive advantage.

Copies of the report are available from Energy & Utility Skills