Equate Scotland

18/08/2026

🌱 Ready to develop your leadership potential and build your future in Scotland's green economy?

Applications are now open for the Career Enhancement Programme 2026: Green Skills Edition.

Designed for women working or aspiring to work in STEM and green sectors, this transformative programme will help you strengthen your confidence, leadership skills, decision-making, and professional network in a supportive and inclusive environment.

📍 Location: SASA Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture, Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh EH12 9FJ
🗓️ Dates: 6 October, 27 October & 17 November 2026 (9:30am to 3:30pm)
👥 Spaces available: 16 participants (a few places remaining)
🚆 Travel and accommodation expenses covered where required
🎓 Facilitated by: Dr Kerstin Doig, Dr Ellen Davis-Walker, Dr Athina Frantzana

Don't just take our word for it:

"It's been a hugely empowering course that I think will influence who I am and who I will grow to be in both my professional and personal life."

"What I liked most about the programme is gelling with the team in an open and inclusive environment which inspired me to open up and think about my ability and development. Marie and Kerstin were great and really made the programme enjoyable."

"I was nervous at the beginning as I don't manage people but the course has taught me that leadership is not just managing people but how you handle situations and make decisions."

🎥 Watch highlights from our previous Career Enhancement Programme and hear directly from past participants about their experience:

🔗Apply now and take the next step in your leadership journey: https://equatescotland.org.uk/event/career-enhancement-programme-2026-2-0/

17/08/2026

⚡👩‍💼 Progress on gender balance in the UK energy sector is continuing, but not quickly enough.

The latest POWERful Women Annual State of the Nation 2026 report reveals that while women now hold 31% of board positions and 36% of leadership roles across the sector, progress has stalled in key areas, raising concerns about the future pipeline of female leaders.

The report also highlights setbacks, including an increase in all-male boards and more companies removing women from board positions, showing that hard-won gains remain fragile.

🔑 Key takeaways:
✅ Women now hold 31% of board roles and 36% of leadership positions in the energy sector
✅ Representation in middle management has plateaued at 34%
✅ Progress towards the sector's 2030 gender balance target is off track
✅ Some organisations have seen a decline in female board representation
✅ Stronger action is needed on recruitment, retention, progression, and accountability

💬 Achieving gender balance isn't just about getting more women through the door. It's about creating clear pathways to leadership and ensuring talent is supported and retained at every stage of a career.

🎥 Watch the launch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnRHbB7Bf9s
📖 Read the full report:https://powerfulwomen.org.uk/annual-state-of-the-nation/reportscreens/2026/PfW_2026_report.pdf

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

13/08/2026

🏗️📚 Happy Back to School to all pupils across Scotland!

As a new school year begins, it's inspiring to see initiatives that help young people explore future career opportunities and develop valuable skills for life.

Over 10 months, 21 S2 pupils at Falkirk High School took part in an engaging construction outreach programme delivered by , , .architects and BakerHicks.

Through hands-on activities, students explored a wide range of careers across the construction sector while building skills in teamwork, sustainability, problem-solving, design, and public speaking.

Working on proposals for the new Falkirk Town Hall, pupils presented their ideas to industry professionals, gaining valuable insight into real-world projects and career opportunities.

🔑 Key takeaways:
✅ Expanded awareness of careers beyond traditional construction trades
✅ Developed practical and transferable skills
✅ Gained experience presenting to industry professionals
✅ Encouraged greater diversity in the future construction workforce

👏 A fantastic example of how early engagement can broaden career aspirations and inspire the next generation.

📖 Read more: https://projectscot.com/2026/05/falkirk-pupils-praised-after-completing-10-month-construction-initiative

Falkirk Council

AN S2 class at Falkirk High School has completed a ten-month initiative aimed at providing them with a better insight into construction careers. Since last ...

10/08/2026

🔬 Nobody Told Me Operations Was a Job: A Scientist's Career Pivot

When we think about STEM careers, most of us picture research, academia, or industry roles. But what about the people who keep major scientific programmes running behind the scenes?

Join us for an insightful talk with Dr Axelle Caudrillier, who will share her journey from academic research to clinical and genomic operations, and back to academia as a Science Manager leading operations for a major research programme.

Axelle's career path shows that there are many ways to build a meaningful career in STEM, even if the route isn't obvious from the start.

You'll hear about:
✅ Transitioning beyond the lab
✅ Transferable skills scientists already have
✅ Careers in operations across biotech, genomics, and academia
✅ Building a career path that works for you

Whether you're exploring new opportunities or simply curious about alternative STEM careers, this event is for you.

📅 Monday 14 September 2026
⏰ 12:30pm - 1:30pm
🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nobody-told-me-operations-was-a-job-a-scientists-career-pivot-tickets-1997436892515

29/07/2026

📢 What will it take to achieve gender balance in executive leadership?

Launched at the National Allyship Summit in May, this new report from explores the perspectives of male CEOs and Chairs from FTSE 350 companies and the UK's largest private businesses on the progress—and challenges—of achieving gender balance at the highest levels of leadership.

While many leaders agree that significant progress has been made in improving board representation, the report highlights a critical challenge: building and sustaining a stronger pipeline of women into executive leadership and CEO roles.

Key barriers identified include: 🔹 Underrepresentation of women in operational, commercial, and P&L roles that often lead to CEO positions
🔹 Retention challenges during key career stages
🔹 The need for more intentional succession planning and sponsorship

Encouragingly, senior male leaders expressed strong support for initiatives that develop future women leaders, alongside greater organisational accountability for talent development.

The report reinforces an important message: gender balance isn't just about board targets. Sustainable progress requires organisations to focus on culture, leadership pathways, sponsorship, and retention to create equitable opportunities at every level.

📥 Download the report here: https://www.maleallies.co.uk/ftse-ceos-chairs-report/ -action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjM3MjAiLCJ0b2dnbGUiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D

What actions is your organisation taking to strengthen the pathway to executive leadership for women?

Perspective from male FTSE 350 and the 50 largest private company CEOs and Chairs on gender balance. Read to see what works and where the challenges lie.

27/07/2026

A major focus of our GIPSO launch discussion was the role of SMEs—who make up the majority of Scotland’s STEM businesses.

Our findings show:
📊 Nearly 90% of STEM employers are small or micro businesses
📊 Many lack the staff capacity or financial resources to implement EDI practices
And yet, the appetite is there.

In the panel, SME leaders shared a common message:
👉 “We want to do more—but don’t know where to start.”

✅ The takeaway:
• You don’t need to do everything at once
• Focus on one or two priority areas
• Use targeted, practical actions

Small organisations may face barriers—but they also have the agility to drive meaningful change quickly.

🔗 Read the full event summary: https://equatescotland.org.uk/building-inclusive-stem-workplaces-in-scotland/

📊 Dive into the findings:https://equatescotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GIPSO-report-2025-1.pdf

22/07/2026

🌟 Have Equate Scotland played a part in your journey? We'd love to hear your story.

Whether you've taken part in one of our programmes, attended an event, received mentoring, joined a Career Clinic, or connected with our community in another way, we'd love to hear about your experience.

As we continue to celebrate the impact of Equate Scotland and the achievements of the people we've supported, we're collecting stories from participants and beneficiaries. Your story can help us demonstrate the difference our work makes, inspire others, and shape future opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in STEM.

💬 Share your experience here: https://forms.office.com/e/1WWUxKBDbp

The questionnaire takes around 10–15 minutes to complete, and you can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with.

Thank you for being part of the Equate Scotland community and helping us celebrate the journeys, successes, and ambitions of those we've supported.

20/07/2026

As part of our GIPSO research launch, one panel insight highlighted something crucial:

👉 The policy landscape around workplace inclusion is changing—and organisations need to be ready.

From spring 2027, employers with 250+ staff will be expected to go further than reporting:
📊 Publish gender pay gap action plans
📊 Take action to support employees experiencing menopause

These changes mark a shift:
➡️ From reporting data → to demonstrating impact

And this comes at a critical time.

Our GIPSO research shows:
📊 Only 23% of organisations can describe how they track EDI progress
📊 Many lack the systems needed to turn commitments into measurable outcomes

At the panel, this was clear—organisations often want to improve, but need clearer structures, tools and accountability.

✅ The opportunity:
• Embed EDI into core strategy and reporting
• Align inclusion with business performance
• Take a more holistic approach—including gendered health and wellbeing

With new requirements on the horizon, the question is no longer why act—but how quickly can we adapt?

🔗 Read more about the event: https://equatescotland.org.uk/building-inclusive-stem-workplaces-in-scotland/

📊 Explore the GIPSO report:https://equatescotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GIPSO-report-2025-1.pdf

15/07/2026

🌟 What’s it really like to be an Equate Scotland Student Champion?

Our 2025–26 Student Champion, Amanda Wallis, has shared an honest and inspiring reflection on her year with Equate Scotland—from planning a STEM careers event and developing her networking skills, to attending workshops, building confidence, and connecting with professionals across the sector.

In her article, Amanda highlights:
✨ Organising a student-industry networking event with speakers from Aize and SLB
✨ Attending professional development workshops on employability, personal branding, and active bystander skills
✨ Gaining confidence in communication, pitching, event planning, and leadership
✨ Experiencing opportunities such as professional headshots and attending International Women’s Day at the Scottish Parliament
✨ Why you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to make a difference

One of our favourite takeaways:

"Do not be intimidated by the job; you don’t need to be super outgoing or be the go-to for event planning. There is some excellent training to teach you how to do it all."

Thank you, Amanda, for your enthusiasm, dedication, and for championing women in STEM throughout the year 💜

If you're a woman studying STEM and looking to develop your skills, grow your confidence, and make an impact on campus, Amanda's story is a must-read.

🔗 Read Amanda's full article and learn more about becoming a Student Champion: https://amandawallisdev.substack.com/p/55e153c1-78f8-4f7f-87dd-6d268fc74323

The insider details of a Student Champion with Equate Scotland

14/07/2026

📣 Help shape the next generation of women in STEM as a Staff Champion

We're busy behind the scenes preparing for our next cohort of Student Champions, starting in September 2026. As we develop new projects and test new training tools, we're looking for university and college staff across Scotland to join us as Staff Champions.

The Student Champions programme empowers women students through training, leadership development and community-building opportunities. Throughout the year, Student Champions receive training from Equate Scotland and organise their own events, helping create environments where women can belong, learn and thrive.

As a Staff Champion, you'll play a vital role by:
💜 Acting as a key point of contact between Student Champions and Equate Scotland
💜 Supporting students throughout their Champion journey
💜 Helping foster an inclusive and supportive campus community
💜 Contributing to positive, lasting change for women in STEM

Here's what our Staff Champions say about the programme:

"I enjoyed meeting the Student Champions and hopefully making a difference to their lives."

"My focus has always been on supporting students and underrepresented groups and this seemed like a good opportunity to make a difference in these areas. Contacts at Equate have always been responsive and I have had the opportunity to work with some lovely Student Champions over my time in the role."

We welcome new partners from universities and colleges across Scotland who want to make a meaningful, tangible impact for women on campus.

📧 Interested in becoming a Staff Champion? Get in touch at [email protected]