ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) has become the first Utility company to support Women in Renewable Energy Scotland (WiRES) as a corporate member. As one of the UK’s leading renewable energy developers, ScottishPower Renewables intends to work closely with WiRES to promote and support the professional development of women working in renewable energy in Scotland.
WiRES was created in 2010, with the aim of representing women in the renewable energy sector and providing a peer-support network for its members. WiRES run a number of initiatives including networking events, an industry mentoring programme and learning seminars for its members. Recent learning opportunities have included a site visit to SPR’s Whitelee Windfarm, where WiRES members took a tour of the UK’s largest onshore windfarm to learn about the development of the site.
Speaking ahead of a WiRES networking reception in Glasgow on the 27th May, Lindsay McQuade, Policy & Innovation Director at ScottishPower Renewables said:
“ScottishPower Renewables is delighted to support WiRES as a corporate member. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and aim to support the goals and ambitions of all our team members.
“This sentiment is especially relevant in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) where recent studies have shown that increased diversity fuels greater innovation, creativity and competitiveness.
“WiRES has been a constructive voice in supporting women in the renewable energy sector and we look forward to our team being part of this positive network.”
Gail Watt, chair of the WiRES steering group, said: “We are delighted to welcome ScottishPower Renewables as a corporate member of WiRES. Encouraging women’s participation in the renewables industry is vital if we are to meet the sector’s growth targets. ScottishPower Renewables’ support strengthens and enables WiRES to continue our work of promoting the industry and offering greater opportunities for our members.
“ScottishPower Renewables recognise the value of fairness and equality in their workforce and as such they should serve as a role model for other Scottish renewables companies.
“With the support of ScottishPower Renewables, WiRES hopes to contribute to increasing the diversity of the sector, and raise awareness of the benefits to businesses who support their female employees.”
Further information:
- Women in Renewable Energy Scotland (WiRES, www.wirescotland.com) is a network for women working, or who would like to work, in the renewable energy sector in Scotland, with the aim of increasing women’s participation and progression within the sector through information, education, and networking opportunities. WiRES offers site visits and expert talks, skills sessions, networking events throughout Scotland, and a mentoring programme.
- WiRES was established in 2010 by a group of female professionals working in Scottish renewables who were concerned about the lack of women in their sector.
- ScottishPower Renewables is part of Iberdrola, a world leader in wind energy. ScottishPower Renewables is responsible for progressing Iberdrola’s onshore wind and marine energy projects in the UK and Ireland, and offshore windfarms throughout the world, managing the development, construction and operation of all projects. Securing our position at the forefront of the renewable energy industry, ScottishPower Renewables became the first UK developer to reach an installed generating capacity of 1,000 MW in 2011, in addition to being awarded a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
- SPR employs 228 people with women making up approximately one third of the workforce in a range of roles covering development, construction and operation of SPR’s fleet of windfarms, as well as other key functions such as policy, regulation and innovation.
- Industry body, Scottish Renewables, announced findings from an independent research survey earlier this year of more than 540 companies, revealing that 28% of the 11,695 people employed in the industry are female.