Yorkshire Water improves pay gap

Yorkshire Water has seen improvement of its gender and ethnicity pay gap numbers.

In its 2020 gender pay gap submission, Yorkshire Water reported a reduction in the mean (average) gender pay gap from 1.5% in 2019 to -0.5% in 2020, consistent with the downward trend the company has observed over the last four years. The median gender pay gap is now -0.3% compared to 0.1% in 2019.

The company also voluntarily publishes its ethnicity pay gap – which, unlike the gender pay gap, is not a regulatory requirement.  In 2020, the mean ethnicity pay gap is -8.8% (-3.3% in 2019) and the median ethnicity pay gap is 2.1% (9.7% in 2019).

Yorkshire Water has joined like-minded organisations in the Leeds Anchor Network to make a commitment to publish all diversity data, so that the group can share learnings and create a dashboard of diversity in the region. As the first scheme of its kind anywhere in the UK, it will allow organisations to identify ways to improve diversity and reflect their local communities.

BAME and women in leadership courses are offered to the company’s staff, in order to provide support and mentoring. Its diversity and inclusion focus group looks at four main streams: ethnicity, gender, disability and LGBTQ+. The colleagues involved help to guide initiatives that support diversity and inclusion.

Of the pay gap report, chief people officer at Yorkshire Water, Jenni Morris said: “Like many companies in our sector, historically our workforce profile has been largely male, resulting in more men than women in senior, better paid roles.

“Our latest figures show a gradual change in the profile of our workforce. Over the last few years, the number of women in higher paid, more senior positions has increased and between 2017 and 2020, there has also been a reduction in the number of women in the lowest pay quartile.

“The figures are really encouraging and we’re certainly moving in the right direction. However, there is more work to be done and with the help of our diversity and inclusion focus groups, we hope to introduce new policies and initiatives to improve further.”

To take a look at Yorkshire Water’s Gender Pay Gap and Workplace Diversity reports, go to: https://www.yorkshirewater.com/careers/working-for-yorkshire-water/diversity-inclusion/