International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 (Saturday 8 March), called for a renewed commitment to gender equality with the theme of #AccelerateAction. At the current rate of progress, full gender parity will not be achieved until 2158 – five generations from now. This stark reality underscores the urgency of taking decisive steps to break down systemic barriers and biases. Octavius Infrastructure is proud to step forward in solidarity, reinforcing our commitment to driving change within our industry and beyond.
Building a Diverse Leadership Pipeline
At Octavius, we recognise that gender equality is not just about representation – it’s about ensuring equal opportunities, fostering an inclusive culture, and supporting women’s advancement at every level. Our Future Leaders Programme exemplifies this commitment, with 47% of candidates in the first cohort being women. By investing in diverse talent, we are actively building a leadership pipeline that reflects our belief in a more equitable future.
Across our business, 25% of our workforce is female, a figure that continues to grow as we challenge industry norms and drive recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing representation. While the construction and infrastructure sectors have traditionally been male-dominated, we are dedicated to creating pathways for women to thrive in all roles, from engineering to senior management. We are proud to have a growing number of women in leadership positions, ensuring that diverse perspectives shape the strategic direction of the business.
Fostering an Inclusive and Supportive Workplace
Beyond numbers, cultivating an inclusive workplace culture is central to achieving true gender equality. Our Women’s Network provides a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy, ensuring that female employees have a strong voice in shaping company policies and initiatives.
We also understand that gender equity extends beyond career progression – it’s about supporting women’s well-being at every stage of life. That’s why we have Menopause Champions, providing guidance and raising awareness about the impact of menopause in the workplace. This ensures that women feel supported in managing their health alongside their careers. We also encourage shared parental leave and have implemented fairer paternity and maternity policies to support parents in returning to the workplace after childbirth.
Accelerating Action for Meaningful Change
Cat Cliffe, People and Sustainability Director at Octavius said “IWD is a moment to bring people together to celebrate the ‘courage, strength and contribution’ of so many women. #AccelerateAction is about acknowledging the imbalances that we know exist, allowing women’s voices to be heard and working together in allyship to make change happen effectively and quickly. At Octavius we are doing our little bit and empowering our women to thrive. We hope others will do the same.”
#AccelerateAction is a powerful call to acknowledge and expand strategies that work -because change doesn’t happen on its own. It requires bold commitments, collective effort, and a willingness to challenge outdated perceptions. Octavius is determined to be part of the solution, continuously evolving our approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
This year on International Women’s Day, we reaffirmed our dedication to Accelerating Action for gender equality. From expanding leadership opportunities to creating an inclusive and supportive culture, we are committed to driving meaningful change – not just on IWD, but every day.
