Diageo is well known for being a progressive company that invests in gender equality and inclusion. Diageo is ranked 1st in the UK in Equileap’s Gender Equality Ranking and the 4th Most Diverse and Inclusive Workplace globally by the Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion Index 2018. Now, Diageo has published its second Gender Pay Gap Report which reveals an improvement in the median pay gap to +5.4% (2017: +8.6%) for British and Scottish Diageo employees. The mean pay gap also improved this year across these businesses to -3.5% (2017: +0.6%).
Recruiting female talent into senior roles
Diageo in Great Britain has a median gender pay gap of -12.6% in 2018. This reflects the positive progress Diageo are making in developing, promoting and recruiting talented women into more senior roles within the company. And this progress reaches beyond Great Britain: in 2018, the number of women in senior leadership positions around the world at Diageo also increased to 34% (2017: 30%).
Diageo is proud to invest in supporting flexible working to secure its female talent, such as coaching before, during and after maternity leave and in diversity training for senior leaders.
Creating a strong pipeline of future female leaders
In Diageo Scotland, its 24/7 manufacturing business, there is a median pay gap of +18.0% (2017: +16.7%). This gap grew in 2018 because there were fewer women choosing shift allowances for unsociable hours and the continuation of the long-term trend of manufacturing roles being held by men. Diageo has recruited more women than men into entry level roles in its Scotland business; 50% of all promotions were women; 66% of graduates hired were women; and Diageo welcomed female science undergraduates into its innovation lab in Menstrie.
"Diageo's focus for our business in Scotland is to build a strong pipeline of future female leaders across both office and manufacturing roles and we are confident that we have the right plans in place to narrow this pay gap in the future," says Diageo.
A new scholarship for female STEM students
Diageo has created two new scholarships in partnership with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The Diageo Scholarships aim to attract more female students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers and establish a pipeline of talent for the future in areas specifically related to Diageo. Over each of the next three years, the scholarships will give two women studying a BSc in Brewing and Distilling and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering paid internships, mentoring from senior women in its manufacturing business and funding for the entire period of their studies.
Proud of its work on inclusion and diversity
Women make up 40% of the global Diageo Executive Committee and currently hold 34% of leadership roles. Following the retirement of two Non-Executive Directors in September 2018, three out of eight board positions are held by women. Diageo aims to restore gender parity in due course.
“We aim to be the best employer for women in the UK and are actively working to ensure we have a strong pipeline of female talent, across the broad variety of roles in our business. While there is more work to do, we are proud that our work on inclusion and diversity is making Diageo a stronger company and I am pleased with the progress we have made this year towards closing the gender pay gap across our combined businesses in Great Britain and Scotland," said Mairéad Nayager, Chief Human Resources Officer, Diageo.
Diversity is part of Diageo’s DNA. Imagine working for a company where everyone’s voice is heard, there’s a wealth of opportunity to progress, and different ways of working and thinking are encouraged. That’s what happens when an organisation puts inclusivity at the heart of its business.
Join Diageo for a rewarding career
Women's work is valued at Diageo and they thrive with the support and opportunities given to them in the company. As one of the leading alcohol beverages company, Diageo offers a wide range of opportunities to talented women. Learn more and apply now!
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.