The energy sector has historically been a male-dominated field across all professional profiles and qualification levels. As a result, despite representing 48% of the global workforce, According to the International Energy Agency, the presence of women in this sector is 22%, and this rate reaches 32% in renewable jobs..
Aware of this fact and the importance of the presence of women in the energy sector, Iberdrola develops and pioneers different initiatives. Facilitating their integration into STEM positions (careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics in countries where they are available).
In particular, the company is developing initiatives on: Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America, Mexican, Brazil anyone AustraliaTo establish strategic alliances, support and provide visibility to other institutions aimed at women’s participation, among other countries.
The company aims to Create an impact that transcends your organization and is sustainable over timeThat’s why it has been working for years on the implementation of both internal and external practices aimed at supporting women at important moments in their careers.
First, the awakening of interest in STEM fields in girls and young people, and then. supporting them in their training and integration into the labor market, accelerating the development of their employees and providing visibility to leading professionals who contribute to the fight against gender bias.
international impulse
Among the programs carried out by the company, programs aimed at increasing development and giving visibility to leading women stand out. With the aim of creating and sustaining a diverse workforce, it encourages the exploration of STEM careers, especially for women, by creating labor market access opportunities, in alliance with existing local institutions, by offering scholarships and educational incentives.
Agreements for different educational projects for girls and young people in Spain different entitiessuch as Innobasque (Basque Country Innovation Agency) or alliances with the Ministry of Education, the Pontifical University of Comillas or the EMT, among others; This year, she participated in the Technovation Girls initiative. This is an innovation and entrepreneurship program where girls and adolescents work with volunteer mentors to solve problems in their environment using technology.
In the United States, the Avangrid Foundation, in collaboration with the organization Girls Inc, has launched Eureka!, which aims to promote five-year intensive training and internships in companies related to STEM careers in youth from minority groups or early college. supports the program. students from families. Iberdrola in the United States also supports the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Also in 2021, the company joined Paradigm for Parity, a coalition of organizations committed to eliminating racial and gender gaps in business and achieving full gender parity by 2030.
In the UK, Iberdrola, through its subsidiary ScottishPower, is a member of POWERful Women, an initiative to increase gender diversity in the energy sector. The company also has an employee network called SP Connected Women, which provides a platform where members can meet regularly and share experiences and ideas at both internal and external events.
in mexico, Since 2018, Iberdrola has been organizing the Energized Women forum, a space for dialogue and education on diversity, equality and inclusion To encourage initiatives that close the gender gap. Additionally, in 2023, the company launched its fourth call for STEM scholarships, a program that has been running since 2019 in collaboration with local institutions aimed at promoting engineering education for Oaxacan youth.
In Brazil, the company, through Neoenergia, committed in 2023 to increase the number of women and people of color in leadership positions in all business units in the country by more than 30% by 2025, in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Global Compact. Also highlighted is the School for Women Electricians, which aims to encourage the placement of women in predominantly male positions in the electrical industry. Since its opening in 2017, it has trained 850 women, nearly 600 of whom have been hired.
In 2022, Iberdrola supported the Women in Energy Network (WIEN) industry association in Australia, which aims to promote the advancement of women in the energy sector through relationships, knowledge exchange and the creation of leadership opportunities.