At Fresenius Medical Care UK (FME UK) we wouldn’t be where we are without the incredible colleagues that work, day-in-day-out, to help create a future worth living for people with chronic kidney disease. As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024, we wanted to take an opportunity to reflect on where we are as an organisation in the pursuit of gender equity and look to the journey that lies ahead. This day embodies our resolve to elevate and empower women within our organisation and across our communities.

Across the globe, Fresenius Medical Care has adopted the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles, underscoring our global pledge to gender equity and women's empowerment.

This commitment is echoed by Helen Giza, our global CEO, who stated that signing the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles “underscores our dedication to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment, championing women in our processes, and positively impacting our communities." 

Celebrating women's achievements at FME UK

We take immense pride in the strides we've made to support and retain women in our workforce in the UK and Ireland:

• In the UK, 53.56% of our female employees have been with us for over three years – a testament to our supportive work environment
• The narrative is consistent in Ireland as well, with 50.9% of our female employees showcasing similar tenures
• Notably, women constitute 71% of our workforce in the UK, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and diversity 
   

Empowering women and aligning standards

The key to achieving equity is ensuring that everyone has the resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally, as employees’ well-being is paramount to our organisation. And creating an environment in which people know their health and well-being is taken seriously creates a safe space so people can bring their full selves to work. 

Our alliance with HealthShield has been pivotal in providing our team with extensive healthcare benefits that span mental health support to maternity care. The launch of Breeze, our wellness app, cements our dedication to comprehensive well-being, offering personalised avenues to enhance lifestyle and mental health.

Our Head of Health Economics, Market Access and Product Management, Marie Beaumont, reflected on women who she looks up to. She told us, “I think if we look back through history, we’ve come such a long way. Two of my heroines within healthcare are Rosalind Franklin and Henrietta Lacks – two women who were instrumental in advancing medical research and knowledge that impacts every single human being on this planet, one consciously, one unconsciously. They were not recognised for their contribution back in the 1950s, but they are recognised now and that is down to a positive progressive cultural change in gender equality.”

Setting Ambitious Gender Diversity Targets

In the quest for inclusivity, our global team has set out to achieve bold gender diversity objectives:

• By 2027, we aim to boost the proportion of women leaders to 35% at the first level below the Management Board and 45% at the second level
• We recently achieved an important milestone of having 50% women on our Management Board, laying down the benchmark for gender representation in leadership
• Our 2030 vision is a leadership demographic that mirrors the global proportion of women in the workforce, reinforcing our pledge to equality and leadership accessibility
   

Our commitment transcends targets; it's about creating a culture where diverse perspectives are valued and where every employee can contribute to their fullest potential.

As we honour International Women's Day, we recognise the continuous path toward gender parity. FME UK is dedicated to cultivating an environment conducive to women's success, supported by our health initiatives and alignment with global gender equity standards. Celebrate with us the fortitude, achievements, and potential of women globally.

Let's bolster our collective support and empowerment, aiming for a future where gender equity is a lived reality.