Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been listed as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2024.

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality is the UK’s most high profile and well-established showcase of employers who are taking action and making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels. The awards are run by Business in the Community (BITC) as part of its Gender Equality work.

Costain has been recognised by The Times and BITC as taking a proactive approach to tackle inequalities in the workplace, by creating action plans to address disparities in areas ranging from pay to progression.

Costain’s actions have included introducing a refreshed job architecture, designed to provide greater transparency around job grades, rewards and benefits, while a new career-path framework has been piloted to give Costain’s people more visibility about how to grow their careers. In addition, the company has maintained a diverse Board and Executive team that visibly champions equality and inclusion.

The company’s approach led to a narrowing of its Gender Pay Gap in 2023, which fell by two percentage points year-on-year. Gender equality was also boosted earlier this year when Costain made significant improvements to its parental leave policy, while also introducing an enhanced carer’s leave policy designed to make it easier for people to balance their personal lives with work commitments.

Catherine Warbrick, chief people and sustainability officer at Costain, commented:

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in improving gender equality and we place a genuine emphasis on the importance of increasing diversity across the organisation. We know that by having a diverse workforce, that’s representative of wider society, we’ll be able to deliver infrastructure solutions that improve people’s lives in a more impactful way.

“By appreciating and celebrating our differences, we’re creating a more dynamic, progressive and inclusive workplace for our people. We’ll continue to drive the equality agenda forward, identifying and implementing ways to attract and retain diverse talent whilst ensuring we’re helping our people achieve their career aspirations.”

 

Charlotte Woodworth, gender equality director at Business in the Community, said:

“Being named as a Times Top 50 employer for gender equality demonstrates Costain’s commitment to driving a more equitable, inclusive world. But while the employers who made the list are doing great work prioritising gender equality, there is still more work to do.

“From addressing pay disparities to better supporting those with caring responsibilities, many employees, women among them, still face barriers to finding employment and progressing in their careers. It is every employer’s responsibility to play their part in reducing and removing gender inequalities from the workplace, and research shows this isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes business sense.”

 

Costain’s recognition by the Times and BITC follows its ranking in the top 25 of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for in 2023.

 

-ENDS-

 

Notes to editors

Media enquiries: Tom Mitchener ([email protected])

About Costain

Costain helps to improve people’s lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet thrive. We shape, create, and deliver pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem across the UK’s energy, water, transportation, and defence markets.

We are organised around our customers, anticipating and solving their challenges and helping to improve performance. By bringing together our unique mix of construction, consulting, and digital experts we engineer and deliver sustainable, efficient, and practical solutions.

About Business in the Community 

Business in the Community is the UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network dedicated to building a fairer and greener world together, supported by His Majesty the King for over 40 years. We inspire, engage and challenge purposeful leaders to take practical action to mobilise their collective strength as a force for good in society.