- Event: AFBE Black History Month
- Event: Beyond Hot Flushes: Understanding physical and emotional pain during the menopause transition
- Event: AFBELive!
Industry updates
Uneven responses to culture war pushing workers back towards the closet
Almost a quarter of LGBTQIA+ workers in the UK energy industry are now more careful about being out at work, according to the latest annual survey by Pride in Energy. The 2026 results found heightened public debate around equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has led to many being more cautious in their workplaces, although a similar proportion (22%) expressed determination to live as their true selves at work despite rising tensions. The survey also found some companies have backtracked on support for inclusion over the past year, while a similar number are taking a stronger stance.
🔗 Read the full results 👉 Pride in Energy Annual Survey 2026
🔗 Pride in Energy board member Nick Turton also discussed the 2026 survey in an article for Energy Institute. Read more 👉 The culture war has no place in our energy workplaces
Four-day week helps advance gender equality, says Electralink
A four-day working week has contributed to greater gender equality and reduced the negative impact on a woman’s career that can be experienced after starting a family, according to Electralink. The company implemented a four-day week model in June 2023, with no compressed hours from Monday to Thursday or reduction of pay or benefits. It has reported a decrease in part-time employees, improved work-life balance and increased support of caring responsibilities, allowing employees to balance personal responsibilities with their careers.
🔗 Read the full case study via POWERful Women 👉 How ElectraLink’s four-day working
week has supported gender equality in the workplace
Degree apprenticeships remain out of reach for many young people
Young people from lower income backgrounds are missing out on access to degree apprenticeships, according to Social Mobility Foundation. Its latest report calls on Government to increase outreach in areas with the biggest opportunity gaps, greater support for travel and relocation costs, improved recognition for vocational qualifications, and recruitment that reflects potential rather than privilege.
🔗 Read the full report and its recommendations 👉 Apprenticeships Without Barriers
An open call for 2026 from TIDE
It’s been great to see many organisations updating our EDI calendar with exciting events and training for the coming weeks, which you can find below.
Please do also send through any news updates also. We would love to receive contributions so we can share the great work everyone is doing in 2026.
Send us your contributions 👉 diversity@energy-uk.org.uk
Events
Have you used TIDE’s industry-wide EDI Calendar yet? It’s a great tool to help you catch annual milestones recognising EDI themes and stay aware of upcoming events across the sector. You can even add your own events for the TIDE team to support and promote. 👉 UK EDI Calendar | Teamup
Black History Month events
AFBE Black History Month
Throughout October | 12pm | Online
The Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE) is delivering a series of talks throughout October to mark Black History Month. The programme will run every Wednesday throughout October and explore the achievements, experiences and contributions of Black people across history, engineering, mathematics, culture and society.
🔗 Find full details of the series and how to join 👉 AFBE Black History Month 2026
Black History Month: Honouring Our Communities
7 October 2026 | 10am | Online
Inclusive Employers will host a webinar inviting organisations to recognise the individuals, networks, and communities whose everyday contributions shape, support, and strengthen workplaces and society across the UK. Participants will examine how to celebrate Black History Month in ways that are authentic, educational, and inclusive while also identifying how they can address racial inequity, improve representation, and strengthen accountability in their workplaces.
🔗 Find more information and how to register 👉 Black History Month 2026: Honouring Our Communities
Energyz Black x Statkraft Black History Month Event
7 October 2026 | 5:30 – 9pm | London
Energyz Black will celebrate Black history, innovation, community, and collaboration across the energy and technology sectors at this event hosted by Statkraft. The evening will highlight the stories and contributions of Black inventors, with opportunities to network, reconnect with familiar faces and engage in meaningful conversations.
🔗 Find out how to register to attend 👉 Energyz Black x Statkraft Black History Month Event
Menopause Awareness Month
WUNForWELLBEING – Empower All: Menstrual and Female Hormonal Health
13 October | 12 – 1pm | Online
The workshop will give employees and managers a practical understanding of menstrual and female hormonal health across all life stages, as well as related conditions such as endometriosis, offering practical tools for participants to use in supporting themselves and colleagues.
🔗 Register for free 👉 WUNforWELLBEING: Menstrual and Female Hormonal Health
Beyond Hot Flushes: Understanding physical and emotional pain during the menopause transition
14 October | 12 – 12:45pm | Online
Women in Nuclear UK will host an interactive session offering practical advice and information on the menopause transition and self-management approaches including workplace adjustments. This session supports World Menopause Day, a global awareness day held on 18 October.
🔗 Find out more information and how to register 👉 Beyond Hot Flushes
Supporting menopause at work: Getting ready for the new Equality Action Plan requirement
15 October | 2 – 3pm | Online
The session will explore what the Equality Action Plan requirements relating to menopause support, taking effect in Spring 2027, mean for employers and how organisations can prepare. The Plan will require firms with 250 or more employees to produce and publish an action plan to show how they are supporting employees experiencing menopause, alongside efforts to address gender pay gaps.
🔗 Find out more information 👉 Supporting menopause at work
WUNForWELLBEING – Empower All – Menopause Awareness for All
21 October | 12 – 1pm | Online
The session will deliver an introduction to menopause and perimenopause and how to recognise these life stages, how symptoms can affect work, and why awareness benefits everyone.
🔗 Find out more information and how to register 👉 WUNforWELLBEING: Menopause Awareness for All
Other events
Balance The Board: Accelerate Together
5 October | 1:30 – 6pm | London
Balance the Board seeks to create more inclusive leadership and support talent pipelines to accelerate positive change through mentoring, development, connection and advocacy. Now in its fifth year, the conference will bring together subject matter experts and industry leaders seeking to learn how to accelerate action change in their organisations.
🔗 Find more information and how to attend 👉 Balance the Board: Accelerate Together
Nuclear Futures: Parents, Carers and Teachers Webinar
15 October | 4:30 – 6pm and 6:30 – 8pm | Online
Women in Nuclear UK will invite six members of the nuclear sector to help parents, carers, teachers and other education professionals explore the opportunities available for young people to work in nuclear.
🔗 Find more information 👉 Nuclear Futures: Parents, Carers and Teachers Webinar
AFBELive!
30 October | 9am – 10:30pm | Birmingham
The national conference returns for its fifth year to invite engineers, students, industry leaders and innovators to a full day of talks, discussions and networking. The 2026 theme – The Future of Engineering: From Access to Equity – will focus on how the engineering sector can continue to provide opportunities and build pathways that lead to lasting, systemic change.
🔗 Find more information 👉 AFBELive!