A gender-balanced workforce can be achieved without quotas
A gender-balanced workforce can be achieved without the need for quotas. That is according to Julia Pyke, joint managing director at Sizewell C, which is setting new benchmarks for diversity. It can today announce that its leadership team is now 65% female – surpassing the nuclear industry’s 2030 diversity target.
Additionally, 43% of Sizewell’s employees are female, and its apprenticeship programme – launched in 2021 – has set an ambition to be 50% female. This progress is not the result of mandated quotas but a deliberate effort to ensure that roles are attractive and accessible to a diverse range of candidates.
Julia believes the lack of parity in construction and engineering jobs points to a systemic issue which begins at school age when young women have historically been discouraged from taking STEM subjects. This is why Sizewell C is working with schools to inspire young people, partnering with businesses to boost regional skills, and collaborating with environmental groups to enhance biodiversity.
Julia Pyke, who was speaking on International Women’s Day, said: “Historically, the nuclear industry has been male dominated, creating barriers to entry for women. We have focused on creating an environment where women want to work. This approach is critical not just for fairness but for the success of the industry as a whole – a diverse leadership team delivers better outcomes, improves public acceptance of projects, and attracts the very best talent.”
Sizewell C is set to create 7,900 onsite jobs, train 1,500 apprentices, and inject £4.4 billion into the East of England alone during construction, and support 70,000 UK jobs. These opportunities would vanish without Sizewell C, depriving communities of long-term, well-paid employment and critical investments in local infrastructure.
Pyke added: “Long-term projects like Sizewell C must not only deliver clean energy, but also create opportunities for people, protect the environment, and drive economic growth. The more we collaborate, the greater the benefits for society.”
