Women in Defence Charter launch 30 by 30 ambition at DSEI.
Today, the Women in Defence Charter is revealing its new strategy, which sets the ambition of achieving a minimum of 30 per cent female representation at all levels across the defence sector by 2030.
Our more than 50 Charter signatories have committed to being the best at driving inclusion and
diversity within their organisations and providing fair opportunity for women to succeed in the UK
defence sector. Through our new strategy, we will work to support the sector in achieving a minimum
of 30 per cent female representation by 2030, acting as a resource of information, guidance, and best
practice, and drawing upon the expertise of our signatories.
The new 30 per cent by 2030 ambition will be supported by the Charter’s three strategic priorities of:
using data to inspire signatories to identify and set their own targets to improve gender diversity in
their organisations; developing the Charter community to bring together organisations committed to
improving gender diversity and inclusion; and leveraging both the data and the Charter Community to
drive policy and societal changes, to help improve gender diversity in the sector.
Baroness Goldie, Minister of State for Defence, said:
“I am delighted to support the launch of the 30 by 30 ambition. For the UK defence industry to
continue to be internationally competitive, we must ensure we are recruiting and developing
the very best future talent, which will enable success in domestic and international markets. A
balanced workforce is good for business, for our customers and our workplace cultures, and
for promoting prosperity and stability.”
Morag Stuart, Ministry of Defence Gender Co-Champion & Director Commercial Improvement,
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) said:
“The UK defence sector is working to achieve a substantial boost in female representation at
all levels across our sector, and our new 30 per cent by 2030 ambition demonstrates the
commitment signatories have to delivering real change and building back better post the
COVID-19 pandemic.”
Angela Owen, Women in Defence UK Co-Chair, described today’s launch as:
“30 by 30 is a rallying cry that sets a stretching but achievable ambition for many parts of the
defence sector and one we hope our signatories will adopt and work together to achieve. If
we are to reflect the society we serve, we need more women working at all levels in the
sector. The journey to 30 by 30 will help to make defence a better place where people can
work, learn and thrive.”
