Vitesse Media (LON:VIS) are set to launch 12 new diversity events across 2018 and 2019, as the company looks to address gender inequality in the workplace.
The digital media and events firm announced on Wednesday it intends to “accelerate” the progression of its gender diversity and ‘Women In’ conferences.
The series of international events aim at tackling the issue of gender inequality across a range of industries.
This includes sectors such as finance and technology, fields which have been traditionally male-dominated and difficult to women to break into.
Alongside existing events in UK and the US, the diversity series is also set to expand across Europe and Asia.
This follows the launch of the ‘Women in IT USA’ awards event last month in New York, which saw 550 leaders in business and technology come together to address diversity issues.
Simon Stilwell, Chief Executive of Vitesse Media, commented:
“We are delighted that the Women in IT Awards continues to grow in size and influence and is now a real representation of how important inclusion is in the technology industry.”
He added: “Our resolve to help tackle this issue is strong and we are excited to be accelerating the development of the Diversity events programme over the next two years.”
The announcement coincides with the upcoming midnight deadline for UK businesses to report on their gender pay gap figures.
Newly implemented government legislation requires companies with 250 employees or more to publish their figures, in a bid to expose gender inequality in the workplace.
Of the 9,000 businesses affected, thus far 8,870 companies have thus far submitted their figures.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd commented on the looming deadline:
“There is absolutely no excuse for businesses in the private sector not to be transparent about their gender pay gap before the deadline set down in law”
“Businesses should see reporting gender pay gap data as just the first step on the road to creating fairer and more equal workplaces across the UK.”
“They should be putting action plans in place to break down the barriers to women’s progression in their organisations,” she added.
Among the biggest recorded overall gender pay difference, the construction, finance and mining sector recorded the highest median pay gap.
Businesses are required to submit gender pay gap figures by midnight on April 4th, according to the government deadline.