Diversity

The Group is committed to developing a diverse workforce and equal opportunities for all. This includes encouraging more women and people from minority backgrounds to pursue engineering careers. During 2008, we recruited graduates for our worldwide graduate programme from 32 nationalities and apprentices in the UK and Germany for our apprentice programme from nine nationalities. Our global governance framework for diversity includes a senior executive Global Diversity Steering Group that provides leadership and shapes strategic direction.

In Asia we continue to make good progress in attracting the highest quality leadership talent. Several key management roles in Asia have provided the opportunity to recruit new senior local management. As the demand signal for early career high potential talent strengthens in the region, we have also engaged with several universities in China, India and Singapore to encourage students to apply for our graduate recruitment and development programme.

Launched in 2006, our UK Women’s Network continues to grow, focusing on personal and professional skills development as well as providing support through networking and mentoring frameworks.

Our policy is to provide, wherever possible, employment training and development opportunities for disabled people. We are committed to supporting employees who become disabled during employment and to helping disabled employees make the best possible use of their skills and potential.