Our impact

The UKRC is active in many areas.

• The UKRC has informed and advised over 650 employers and organisations on gender equality policy and practice - together they employ or serve over one million people in the science, engineering, technology and built environment (SET) sectors.
• The UKRC CEO Charter has gained nearly 200 active signatories  - they include new start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises and major companies and membership organisations such as Arup, E.ON, Halcrow, PepsiCo, British Computing Society, Transport for London and the Olympic Delivery Authority.
• Of the 50 SET companies listed in the FTSE 100, 12 have working relationships with the UKRC, including Rolls Royce, Centrica, BAE Systems and Unilever. 
• Some 250 organisations have provided details about the changes and outcomes achieved with help from the UKRC. Of these, 185 are committed to improving gender equality in their organisations, 33 have worked with the UKRC to diagnose their workplace culture, 71 have undertaken improvement action and 58 have reported improved results in gender equality.
• The UKRC has had considerable success in supporting organisations wanting to increase gender diversity in their apprenticeship programmes. For instance, in 2010 the UKRC worked with E.ON to increase the number of female apprentices recruited six-fold. In 2011 we worked with energy sector companies to diversify their STEM apprenticeships, and in 2012 we are launching new resources to help organisations and individual applicants.
• The UKRC sets the benchmark for gender equality achievement for science, engineering and technology businesses and organisations through its SET Fair Standard award and recognition scheme. Launched in 2009, the SET Fair Standard is the UK's first high profile award that gives public recognition for excellence in gender equality across SET sectors.
• The UKRC’s flagship Women of Outstanding Achievement Award and photographic exhibition now consists of 37 portraits hung in prominent locations in leading SET professional bodies and academic institutions. These showcase women of achievement and leadership, and increase the visibility of inspirational role models. In 2012 we are combining the Women of Outstanding Achievement Award with the high profile WISE Awards.

Services for Women

Up to March 2011, the UKRC was the lead organisation working with women at all career levels in STEM, including new entrants, returners and women wanting to progress. Services include personal career support, mentoring opportunities, mentoring for public life, training grants and bursaries. Since 2008, the UKRC’s programmes for individuals reached more than 5,000 women. Our work with other organisations and networks supporting women in SET extended this reach to around 20,000 women.

These services are now available to organisations and businesses wanting to recruit, retain and progress female employees, members and students.

In 2011, the UKRC took on leadership of WISE, enabling us to extend our remit to encompass girls as well as adult women. WISE is now integrated with the UKRC, offering a classroom to boardroom approach.