Women's Network of the Year
Women's Network of the Year
This award celebrates a network that champions women and gender diversity. It highlights the supportive work of internal women's networks and their ability to drive change, provide a safe space and lobby for policies that make a tangible difference to women in the workplace.
The contenders
Business Stream
At Business Stream, we’ve created a workplace culture that supports women to thrive. We’ve introduced inclusive working practices, provided greater flexibility and launched a wide-range of wellbeing initiatives. This includes establishing our menopause colleague network, which is a fantastic example of how our colleagues have driven an initiative that is fostering inclusion. In addition to being defined as a “lifeline” by members, the network has had a measurable impact on the wider business and our commitment to aligning our practices to the menopause friendly accredited status – reinforcing our aim of creating a supportive workplace that encourages open conversations.
Centrica
The Centrica Women’s Network (CWN) drives meaningful change through advocacy, community impact, and colleague support. In 2025, the network delivered 248 volunteering hours, raised over £4,000 for Women for Women International and supported young women to pursue STEM careers. Internally, CWN transformed mentoring with its app, championed an updated Domestic Abuse and Sexual Harassment policy, advanced menstrual equity, and promoted allyship across the organisation. Through inspiring speakers, OpenMic sessions, and its flagship Women’s Network Awards, CWN continues to build a connected, empowered community and shape a more inclusive future at Centrica.
Energia Group
Women in Energy at Energia Group is an employee‑led network dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and championing women (and allies) across Energia Group. Established in 2021, it empowers women and allies through connection, development, and meaningful cultural change. Its impact spans gender‑inclusive policies, menstrual equity, STEM outreach and support through both career and life stages. With over 170 active members, it is the Group’s largest and most successful employee network, driving a more inclusive and equitable workplace, shaping policy, strengthening representation, and helping build a diverse future for Energia Group and the wider utilities sector.
Lanes Group
Women at Lanes is established as an important component of Lanes Group’s ambitious transformation and growth strategy. It’s achieving important successes with a strategy based on clear evidence of what women across the company want and need. Participation has been widened and opportunities for personal and career development, through mentoring and training, are being extended. Its initiatives combine activities designed to inspire and build confidence, backed by practical advice and support. Now its members are using their experiences to help other colleague networks replicate their success.
National Energy System Operator
Women in NESO(WiN) is redefining what inclusive leadership looks like at the heart of the UK’s energy industry. As NESO leads the transition to a secure, affordable and decarbonised energy future, WiN is ensuring women are visible, supported and empowered at every stage of that journey. Through sector‑leading mentorship programmes, powerful allyship initiatives and data‑driven long‑term strategy, WiN has created a community where women thrive and men actively champion equity. With NESO uniquely positioned at the centre of the energy ecosystem, WiN is setting a national example, showcasing what true gender empowerment and role‑modelling in a technical industry should be.
Network Plus
Since launching in 2022, Women in Network Plus (WIN+) has grown from a small internal forum into a powerful network of over 300 employees driving real change across Network Plus. The network is strengthening talent retention, accelerating leadership development and increasing female representation across operational and leadership roles in the utilities sector. Through mentoring, leadership programmes and targeted career pathways, WIN+ is helping women progress into roles where they have traditionally been under-represented. In the past year alone, internal promotions supported by WIN+ have saved nearly £230,000 in recruitment costs, demonstrating the clear commercial value of investing in female talent.
Northumbrian Water Group
Northumbrian Water Group’s (NWG’s) WiSTEM network is a thriving, colleague-led community of over 400 members championing gender diversity across the utilities sector. Since its launch, the network has driven measurable change, contributing to a 20% increase in female promotions, a rise in apprenticeship representation from 14% to 22%, and achieving 50% female representation in key leadership teams. Through over ten annual development events, targeted workplace improvements and large-scale outreach reaching more than 5,000 young people, WiSTEM is creating lasting impact, empowering women to progress, shaping inclusive policies and building a sustainable pipeline of future talent in STEM.
Southern Water
The Southern Water Women’s Network champions women and gender diversity across operational sites and offices, turning lived experience into tangible workplace improvements. Now in its third year, the network provides a safe, welcoming community for women and allies while delivering practical change that improves dignity, safety and inclusion. Over the past 12 months it has driven inclusive PPE improvements , strengthened welfare standards on sites through better hygiene and sanitary provision, and supported frontline colleagues facing challenging customer interactions through “Service with Respect” messaging and de‑escalation training promotion. It is action focused, collaborative and delivers lasting,
Uisce Éireann, Irish water
At Uisce Éireann (UÉ), we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve and supports our people to thrive at every stage of their working lives. As Ireland’s national water utility, we recognize that transforming essential infrastructure must go hand‑in‑hand with transforming workplace culture. The ibelong Women’s Network champion women at every stage of life by creating a culture of support, advocacy, and opportunity. By recognizing the evolving needs of women across their careers, we deliver impactful, stage-specific support.
Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water have led a women’s network established in April 2022, led by the Head of Programme Delivery. It brings together female engineers across 26 different tier one partners and consultants in the water construction industry to create a sense of community, celebrate success and work on the challenges women face working as a minority in the industry. We have created a safe space with quarterly interactive sessions pulling expertise and stories from organisations and individuals. The group is sponsored by the YW exec team and partner directors.
