Abida Lalani, Director of strategy and transformation
Costain helps to improve people’s lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people, and the planet, to thrive. We shape, create, and deliver pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem across the UK.
In the defence and nuclear energy sectors, we deliver critical national infrastructure combining our civil and defence nuclear experience, ensuring long-term energy security and a sustained UK deterrent programme. In 2022 Costain re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant and was acknowledged with the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for its outstanding support of the Armed Forces community.
We know that by being more diverse, we will be more innovative, have a greater understanding of our customers’ needs and deliver smarter, more inclusive solutions for them:
- In 2024 Costain was recognised as a Times Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality and we also enhanced our maternity, paternity and carers leave offering, beyond the industry standard.
- We have become a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the government accreditation scheme.
- Since 2020, 50% of our Executive Board has been female.
- In June 2023 we launched our Empower Programme with a cohort of 12 women. Now in its 3rd cohort, the six-month programme equips individuals with tools to reflect, challenge imposter syndrome and lean into their strengths.
We are also a signatory of the Women in Defence Charter meaning that Costain will play a key role in baselining the current gender balance in the UK defence sector by driving change to support 30% female representation at all levels by 2030.
Costain is committed to creating a work culture that promotes, values and celebrates diversity, allowing employees to perform at their best. We’re incredibly proud of our majority female Board at Costain and hope that we can inspire women in our business and professional networks, to strive for diversity at all levels.
