Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | AUGUST 2022 | 23 Diversity Interview A chieving better diversity in the energy sector is being constrained by a "fear of retribution and reputational damage", according to Ofgem equal- ity chief Lesley Babb, The energy regulator's head of equality, diversity and inclusion, spoke to Utility Week following the launch of a new taskforce which aims to drive industry-wide action to improve diversity in the sector. The Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy (TIDE) Taskforce will run for 18 months and will see leading industry experts combine cross-sector insights and build on the existing works by various groups. Babb says research is showing that companies with more diverse organisations, and in particular in leader- ship roles, are more pro… table and successful. However, Utility Week has previously highlighted the challenge of the sector's push for greater diversity being constrained by a lack of adequate data on sta‡ . Babb says the topic "came out as a common theme" at June's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Energy Con- ference, hosted by Energy UK. While acknowledging the issue, she believes the problem is solvable. She says: "The energy sector collects data on all sorts of things so to say that this is too much of a barrier is quite frankly a load of rubbish. There just needs to be time and e‡ ort put into it. This is why I'm delighted to be part of the TIDE Taskforce. "One of our … rst objectives is getting the basics right, to look at gathering this data so that we've got a proper evidence base for where we are underrepresented, where are the issues, so that we can start prioritising real action to try and address this from a sector-wide perspective. "I think some of the barriers are probably due to the fact they haven't liked what they saw, or they're fright- ened. Certainly I think it's quite hard to shine a light on something that you're not doing very well on publicly. "So maybe there's that fear of retribution and repu- tational damage. As organisations, we just need to be brave and say, 'we know we've got a problem here, this is what the data says', so that we can really … x it." Babb says there is a disparity in the amount of data collected and that while organisations such as Powerful Women have collated data on the gender balance of the sector, data on other characteristics have not been as widely measured. "But these sorts of things take time to address. It's a bit like turning a tanker. We are making progress, but it's too slow really. I think people haven't seen people like themselves, so perhaps haven't seen the sector as an organisation where they feel that they could belong, or … t." Babb says she believes there is an historic "a• nity bias" in the sector and that employers need to ensure they are not recruiting in their own image. "So I think we need to look at things like cultural barriers and really hold a mirror up to them, and really think about how we recruit a bit more creatively, and not just do the same old thing again and again." Launching the taskforce, Ofgem's chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, said: "True representation is at the heart of any successful industry and so we must move further and faster to ensure we can attract the very best people from all backgrounds into the energy industry." Meanwhile, Energy UK's director of strategic commu- nications and EDI lead, Juliette Sanders, said working collaboratively is "essential" to ensure the sector attracts and retains a diverse workforce. She added: "There is some great work happening in some parts of industry and TIDE aims to bring together the people that have already driven change to provide a high-level coordinated approach across industry. "We want to ensure that rather than duplicating, we combine knowledge and share experience to adopt best practice across all parts of industry. " Adam John, senior reporter "As organisations, we just need to be brave and say, 'we know we've got a problem here … we can fi x it." Lesley Babb, EQUALITY CHIEF, OFGEM The taskforce members: Celia Anderson, gender champion for the o shore wind industry and co-chair for the OWIC Diversity Working Group • Josh Atkins, head of communications at the ENA and chair and founder of Pride in Energy. • Lesley Babb, head of equality, diversity and inclusion at Ofgem. • Elizabeth Blakelock, principal policy manager for Citizens Advice. • Caroline Gundu, senior consultant at CGI and chair of Young Energy Professionals Forum. • Amelia Heatly, director of diversity and inclusion at Electralink. • Jonathan Lydiard Wilson, senior independent advisor for JLW Innovations. • John McCalla-Leacy, partner and UK head of ESG at KPMG. • Juliette Sanders, director of communications and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lead for Energy UK. • Georgina Worrall, project manager for Powerful Women.

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