EI receives award for gender equality
The Earlham Institute’s (EI) first submission to the prestigious Athena SWAN Charter, owned and managed by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), has received the Bronze Award.
EI has grown from a skeleton workforce to over 130 staff, with a 42% representation of women across the institute.
EI’s current director, Professor Neil Hall, said: “As a father of four, with a partner in full-time work as a teacher, I have a deep appreciation of how flexible working has enabled me to support my children and my partner in her career.
“I have been extremely impressed with the initiatives in place to support women scientists and EI’s ethos which embraces the principles of Athena SWAN. As a member of the Norwich Research Park, we also share best practices in gender equality with our neighbouring research partners.”
Director of science Professor Di Palma said: “I am very proud of this achievement at Earlham. As a mother of four, I am particularly familiar with and grateful for the flexible working arrangements. At Earlham, we have fostered a culture sensitive to the needs of working parents and, in return, our staff meets the challenges of such flexible working hours with great commitment, determination, focus and efficiency.”
Hall, added: “Underpinning everything we do is a commitment to develop and nurture the best staff we can recruit to EI. The action plan we have developed will improve, not only our mission for gender equality, but will advance everything we do as an institute.”
