The Inclusion Measurement Framework is the sector’s benchmark for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
Now in its sixth year, the Framework provides vital insights into the sector’s progress in attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce to identify where change is needed.
To build the skilled workforce to deliver the sector’s infrastructure, energy security, environmental and growth ambitions, we need to better understand and address the barriers to attracting, retaining, and progressing diverse talent. Identified as an immediate priority in the 2025-30 Skills Strategy, the adoption of the Inclusion Measurement Framework by all utility Industry employers is key in understanding the progress we are making as employers and as sector.
Why your participation matters
Despite encouraging improvements, last year’s results revealed that:
- Women still make up just 28% of the sector’s workforce, compared to a UK average of 48%. However, women also made up 32.7% of promotions in 2024 – up from 32.1%.
- Ethnicity, disability and LGBTQ+ representation remain significantly below national benchmarks.
- Declaration rates, particularly for sexual orientation and disability, remain low – nearly 60% of respondents did not disclose sexual orientation.
Getting Involved
To make participation as straightforward as possible:
- A new digital submission platform is now available, however an Excel option is available if preferred.
- Up to one hour of free support is available from our partner, The Equal Group, to help with the submission.
- You can provide as much or as little data as you have available within your organisation.
- There is also the opportunity for sector leaders to participate in the standalone Leadership Survey, which captures views on leading inclusion and their own diversity journeys.
- Free to participate in, you can benchmark your organisation’s data by sector, industry (e.g., water, power, waste, gas, supply chain), organisational size and region – and track year-on-year progress if you’ve participated before.
Submission is now open until 24 October 2025
You can register to take part in the 2025 Inclusion Measurement Framework on The Equal Groups Website.
Once you have submitted your data, The Equal Group will analyse all submissions and we will release our report in early 2026.
For questions or support, please contact The Equal Group directly.
“Facing a workforce demand of over 300,000 new people by 2030, if we don’t reflect the full diversity of the communities the sector serves, we will not meet that need. And if we fail to create inclusive workplaces, we’ll struggle to keep those we hire.
Your organisation’s participation is vital – the 2025 Inclusion Measurement Framework gives us the tools to make that happen. But only if we use them – not just to report, but to deliver change. Because a diverse and inclusive workforce isn’t just part of the sector’s future, it’s how we build the skills for Britain’s future.”
Paul Cox
Group Chief Executive, Energy & Utility Skills
