Honorary Water Conservator Baroness Barbara Young sponsored a discussion with afternoon tea for the Company in the House of Lords.
The intention of the meeting was to consider how we might try to assist more women applicants into senior positions in the water and environmental professions and into our Company where we can provide key networking opportunities and other support.
Freeman Kathryn Pharr, who is also the Founder of the Community of Women in Water, facilitated small group discussions on four key questions to help the Company determine where it can best support women in the sector.
Barbara expressed serious concern at the current state of our environment and water, lland use and biodiversity. We needed more women in the sector and she praised the work of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators. Kathryn pointed out that in both the UK and globally, women are only about 20% of employees working on water resources and water, sanitation and hygiene systems. In the next decade, the UK is expected to have 63,000 job vacancies related to water utilities, 8% of the water workforce is under 24.
Kathryn said that the UK water sector desperately needs a high influx of workers. We must recognise that to date, hiring tactics, policies and realities have not resulted in equal representation in jobs. More must be done to attract and retain women in the sector. Research and practice in other sectors have found that the adjustments made to attract and retain women, when applied equally as they must be under UK law, benefit all employees.
We were also able to take advantage of the magnificent view from the terrace.
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