Announcing Women in Defence Charter launch 30 by 30 ambition at DSEI

Today, the Women in Defence Charter is revealing its new strategy, which sets the ambition of achieving a minimum of 30 per cent female representation at all levels across the defence sector by 2030.

Our 54 Charter signatories have committed to being the best at driving inclusion and diversity within their organisations and providing fair opportunity for women to succeed in the UK defence sector. Through our new strategy, we will work to support the sector in achieving a minimum of 30 per cent female representation by 2030, acting as a resource of information, guidance and best practice, and drawing upon the expertise of our signatories.

The new 30 per cent by 2030 ambition will be supported by the Charter’s three strategic priorities of: using data to inspire signatories to identify and set their own targets to improve gender diversity in their organisations; developing the Charter community to bring together organisations committed to improving gender diversity and inclusion; and leveraging both the data and the Charter Community to drive policy and societal changes, to help improve gender diversity in the sector.

Baroness Goldie, Minister of State for Defence, said:

“I am delighted to support the launch of the 30by30 ambition. For the UK defence industry to continue to be internationally competitive, we must ensure we are recruiting and developing the very best future talent, which will enable success in domestic and international markets. A balanced workforce is good for business, for our customers and our workplace cultures, and for promoting prosperity and stability.”

Morag Stuart, Ministry of Defence Co-Chair, said:

“The UK defence sector is working to achieve a substantial boost in female representation at all levels across our sector, and our new 30 per cent target demonstrates the commitment signatories have to delivering real change and building back better post the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Angela Owen, Women in Defence UK Co-Chair, described today’s launch as:

A real opportunity for all our signatories to commit to and be ambitious about achieving tangible change by 2030. The 30by30 ambition will support companies across the defence sector in providing fair opportunities for women to succeed in UK defence and ensure female representation at all levels.”