With current geopolitical trends and global challenges, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves why diversity is not just a good idea but an essential one in the clean energy sector. Here, Rachel Hayes, founder of Regen's women in renewable energy network, ReWiRE, looks at ways the sector can attract and retain the diverse talent it needs to innovate, grow and lead the transition to net zero.
This week I attended an event organised by POWERful Women, at which they released their annual 'State of the Nation' report on diversity in the clean energy sector. It was inspiring to see the commitment and excellent work happening across the sector.
Yet, frustratingly, the stats aren't great. Just 30% of board members (executive and non-executive) in the top 100 UK energy companies employing over 130 people are female, up 1% on last year.
You can view the full report here. A big well done to the teams at Powerful Women and Bain and Company for measuring this progress each year – no easy feat.
Many other excellent networks across our sector, such as the Women's Utilities Network, District Heating Divas and, of course, our own ReWiRE, have been working for over a decade to tackle these challenges. But with current geopolitical trends and global challenges, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves why diversity is not just a good idea, but essential for the clean energy sector...
1. Clean energy is essential for the planet. Tackling climate change means shifting to low-carbon, renewable sources of energy quickly. We need all hands on deck to design and deliver solutions at scale.
2. Clean energy is powering the UK’s economic future. With the much anticipated industrial strategy due by the end of the month, the sector is creating thousands of high-quality jobs, supporting regional economies, and attracting investment. It’s no longer a niche; it’s a central pillar of growth.
3. Diversity makes business sense. Research consistently shows that diverse teams make better decisions, innovate more, and outperform on financial metrics. A sector that lacks diversity risks groupthink, blind spots, and missed opportunities.
4. This is a once-in-a-generation transformation. Buckle up! The scale and pace of the change required is massive. To rise to the challenge, we need to bring in the broadest pool of talent, drawing from all backgrounds, identities and experiences.
5. Energy underpins everything. From how we heat our homes to how we move, work and communicate, energy makes the wheels of society turn. If we want a fairer, more sustainable future, the people shaping that system must reflect the society it serves.
At Regen we’ve been advocating for more women in our sector and ReWiRE champions gender diversity by connecting, inspiring and equipping women to thrive. Since 2014, we’ve been leading the way in supporting women across the sector, from early careers to boardrooms, with the tools, networks and visibility they need to succeed in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
ReWiRE works in partnership with organisations to support women progressing from middle management to senior leadership and board-level roles, particularly in SME clean energy businesses. Our goal is to build inclusive cultures where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to lead. By sharing knowledge, resources and best practice, we help the sector attract and retain the diverse talent it needs to innovate, grow and lead the transition to net zero.
I’m proud to report our own headline stats:
3/7
Women in non-executive director positions
2/5
Women on the executive team
5/10
Women in middle management roles
Hearing from the line-up of speakers at the Powerful Women event made me reflect on what we’ve got right at Regen – a small organisation of just 40 people, 24 of whom are women. We’ve adopted ‘Teal’ principles – ways of working that focus on empowering people, building trust and encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. This means:
Much of this culture change was cited at the event as unlocking the essential ingredients that help people to thrive – and thriving people are the ones who solve big, systemic problems. If the energy transition is to succeed, we need more organisations working this way. This isn’t just about women, this is about building a clean energy future that includes and benefits everyone.
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