BAE Systems Sustainability
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Our ambition is to be recognised as the leading employer in the defence and security sectors for valuing diversity, equity and inclusion.
We are also ambitious to:
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Ensure that women make up at least 50% of our Executive Committee by 2030. Increase representation of race, ethnicity and gender in our workforce and across all our localities.
And,
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In the UK and by 2030 at the latest, our ambition is that more than 30% of our workforce will be women. This includes more women in senior grades and in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths roles. We will continue to define our other ambitions with regards to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diversity, equity and inclusion remains a key business priority
Throughout 2022, we prioritised initiatives around recruitment and retention of diverse talent, ensuring they are embedded into our processes. This work will continue through 2023 as we look to create a more inclusive working environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
The Group is committed to giving open, full and fair consideration to applications for employment from disabled people and people with health conditions or impairments who meet the requirements for roles. We also ensure training opportunities and appropriate accessibility are available to all. We firmly believe that the inclusion of all of our people is vital to the success of our business. Our commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility in the workplace is illustrated by our pledge to support The Valuable 500 campaign and in 2022 we became one of the founding members of Neurodiversity in Business.
Globally, we have now set an ambition to be recognised as the leading employer in defence and security for valuing diversity, equity and inclusion. We also want to be representative of gender and ethnicity in the localities in which we operate.
Our ambitions are supported by a range of targets:
- Globally - 50% of Executive Committee members to be women by 2030.
- UK - 30% of the organisation’s workforce to be women by 2030 at the latest.
- BAE Systems, Inc. - progress towards greater gender and racial diversity at all levels of the organisation.
- Other countries - targeted ambitions for other countries in which we operate.
From May 2023, we are on track to meet the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Board diversity targets including a female chair and a 40% gender mix with one member from an ethinic minority background.
Globally, we have set an ambition to be recognised as a leading employer in defence and security for valuing diversity, equity and inclusion. We also want to be representative of gender and ethnicity in the localities in which we operate.
We recognise the challenges of increasing diversity in the engineering sector but, through our schools and early careers programme, we are proactively increasing diversity in our pipeline and seeking opportunities to bring in talent from a wider segment of society. Resourcing talent development and succession planning remain key for us across all markets. We are making steady progress on gender diversity and our Executive Committee now includes an increased number of women and ethnic minority representation.
Stand-out UK initiatives delivered in 2022 have included:
- A nationwide engineering roadshow for schools with themes specifically for girls. This is supported by 800 employee STEM Learning Ambassadors.
- An engineering badge partnership with Girl Guiding North West which has been completed by more than 23,000 girls.
- Career sponsorship programmes for women at all levels.
- Leadership development opportunities in inclusive recruitment guidelines and senior leadership specific inclusion workshops.
- Making free sanitary products available across the majority of sites, with the remaining being actioned in 2023.
- Achieving Menopause Friendly Employer accreditation.
Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index Member
BAE Systems joins 484 other companies as a member of the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), which is developed to gauge the performance of public companies dedicated to reporting gender-related data. The GEI measures gender equality across five pillars: leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies, and external brand. Companies on the 2023 GEI represent 45 countries and regions and a variety of sectors, including financials, technology and utilities.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Our ERGs play an important role in promoting an inclusive and attractive workplace. They provide visible leadership and direct engagement with a range of affinity groups, to ensure employees feel that their differences are valued and represented. Our ERGs are also vital in raising awareness and educating those who may not directly relate to their focus area, but wish to support as an ally.
In the UK, this is supported by 18 different pledges and commitments to external charters, including veterans, LGBTQ+, mental health, disability and social mobility. Also in the UK, we have six core ERGs: Enabled (disability); GEN (gender); Mindset (wellbeing); VetNet (veterans); Embrace (cultural diversity) and OutLink UK (LGBTQ+).
In BAE Systems, Inc. we have continued our support through the broader Multicultural Network and its eight US ERGs. In addition, an executive-level Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council was formed to drive execution of Inc.-wide actions.
Some of our stories
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I celebrate Black history every day because I’m Black every day. It’s time to walk the talk on inclusion.Read moreThink about those times when you’ve been faced with a customer demand that brings daunting challenges but which simply has to be met.
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Movement to WorkRead moreWe are a leading member of the UK’s largest employer collaboration to tackle UK youth unemployment, called Movement to Work.
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Five things I’ve learned about inclusionRead moreTo mark National Inclusion Week, Theresa Palmer reflects on her career and identifies key lessons learned from her time spent working on diversity and inclusion.
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My experience in the Army helped me to deliver changeRead moreBusiness Analyst Rebs Foran-Coutts is one of four employees nominated for the 2022 British Ex-Forces in Business Awards. In this blog, she shares how she co-founded an employee network for veterans to support colleagues transitioning from the military to life at BAE Systems.
Pledging our support for Charters, Missions and Taskforces
As part of our drive to increase diversity and inclusion and across our international business, BAE Systems has committed to support a number of projects in areas such as gender, mental health, assistance for veterans and social mobility. Providing opportunities for all employees to thrive in the workplace regardless of their race, gender or background is a vital characteristic for successful and responsible businesses. Learning from other organisations and working together is an important factor in increasing diversity and inclusion throughout the sectors we work in.
BAE Systems Plc has signed a number of Charters and Pledges including:
25x25
We’ve joined 25×25 because there’re not enough women in senior leadership or indeed CEO positions right across the FTSE100.
30% Club
To show our commitment in taking action to increase gender diversity at board and executive-committee levels.
Armed Forces Covenant
We were the first Defence Company to sign up to the UK Armed Forces Covenant, cementing our commitment to supporting those who serve, have served and their families.
Change the race ratio
Racial and ethnic minority representation in leadership roles is a priority for us, and have signed this pledge to aide us in picking up the pace of progress and turn intent into action and change.
Mental Health Commitment
This pledges employers to change the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace
Movement to Work
We are committed to supporting this project and working together to tackle youth unemployment.
Stonewall Diversity Champion
We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and listed in Stonewall’s Top 100 employers compiled from its Workplace Equality Index. The Diversity Champions programme is the leading employers' programme for ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are accepted without exception in the workplace.
The Social Mobility Pledge
The pledge asks signatories to partner with schools or colleges, deliver structured work experience and apprenticeships to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Valuable 500
This is a global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda.
Women in Defence
The Women in Defence Charter is a commitment to work together to build a more balanced enterprise across the defence sector
Women in Maritime
Over 121 companies in the maritime sector have signed a pledge designed to signal intent on gender diversity
In Australia BAE Systems supports:
Defence Families Australia
Supports defence families and articulates their needs to Government
Diversity Council Australia
An independent not-for-profit peak body leading diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Future Women Academy
Diversity consulting platform focussed on female leadership
JobAccess
National body providing advice and support for people with disability, employers and service providers
PM's Veterans Employment Program
The program asks companies to recognise the skills and values of veterans and ensure they have equal opportunity in gaining employment
Soldier On
The program asks companies to recognise the skills and values of veterans and ensure they have equal opportunity in gaining employment
Stars Foundation
Connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women with mentoring support
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
We are committed to working with the Agency to promote and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces
In the US our business supports:
American Legion Employment Innovations Taskforce
We are committed to working with the Agency to promote and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
A Department of Defense program that promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employer
Veteran Jobs Mission
The mission is a collation of 200 companies that has collectively hired more than 500,000 veterans since 2011