Chamber member Card Geotechnics is first Construction Company to sign up to new scheme - Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Industry - supporting your business

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Chamber member Card Geotechnics is first Construction Company to sign up to new scheme

Women set fair for a more equal future

On November 5^th 2009, the UK Resource Centre for women in science, engineering and technology was pleased to launch its new gender equality award as part of its portfolio designed to help women, businesses and organisations working in the science, engineering and technology arenas.  Chamber member, Card Geotechnics became the first construction company to sign up to this scheme and is looking forward to continuing to support its development and spread through the industry.

The SET Fair Standard - as the new award is known - was launched to over 100 captains of industry, business leaders and academics at a prestigious event at London's BT Tower where delegates enjoyed presentations by Halcrow CEO - Peter Gammie, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Jean Venables, Director of BT Centre People's Networks - Caroline Waters and UKRC Director Annette Williams.

Awarded at 3 levels - committed, achieving and outstanding the SET Fair Standard is customised for

• corporate and large organisations
• small and medium sized organisations
• professional institutions
• research facilities and councils
• employer members organisations (such as Sector Skills Councils)
• colleges and places of further education

It enables businesses and organisations to recognise and celebrate progress in developing inclusive workplaces where women have been underrepresented for decades. UKRC has decided that the time has come to do things differently - the SET Fair Standard is central to that process of change. 

As Annette Williams said, ‘Gender equality matters - it values and nurtures talent, builds a more inclusive and diverse workforce and leads to a better business performance. Clearly science, engineering and technology will be at the forefront of taking the UK out of recession and women will play a central role.  The SET Fair Standard will prove to be an important step for increasing and improving the participation of women in these vital areas'. 

The Standard, over 3 years in development, was piloted by five organisations including Card Geotechnics, a representative SME in the industry.

All pilot organisations were represented at the launch and all were keen to give their views of The SET Fair Standard - why they were involved in the pilot exercise and why they are committed to gender equality.   Card Geotechnics highlighted the fact that the Standard gives third party documented evidence of its company ethos and commitment to gender equality.

Annette Williams concluded ‘this is a really big day for UKRC, for UK businesses active in the SET arena but most of all of course for women. For too long women have played second fiddle in these important areas but I believe that the SET Fair Standard will prove to be the dawning of a new age where both women and organisations will get the best out of each other for the benefit of each other and of the economy. I urge all businesses and organisations operating in our arena to contact UKRC to find out about the work we do and to sign up for the SET Fair Standard'.

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