Recommendation 15

We asked about the diversity of the workforce to deliver these environmental goals, and the Environment Agency noted the steps it has taken to improve diversity, for example going into technical institutes where there may be a higher proportion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and offering apprenticeships to help attract them to the organisation.40 Natural England acknowledged that the communities it needs to engage with in driving nature as a health solution, including those with high proportions of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, are not currently reflected in its workforce. It told us that it wants to invest in tackling this in future to build a more representative workforce.41 On gender, the Environment Agency noted that currently 44% of its senior leaders are women, with a target of 50%. It also noted other measures to improve female representation throughout the organisation, such as a scheme to attract female engineers and a network to help support them once recruited.42 Natural England told us that it has the right balance, with 56% of its workforce being women.43