The list recently came out, and the Army was on it. Women have come a long way when it comes to taking up ranks in the military, so it’s pretty brilliant to see the Army being recognised for the genuine space it has created for women.

The list includes employers within the UK who have made their gender equity a part of their business strategy and have developed workspaces and cultures that help women grow in the roles they take up.

In just the last couple of years, the Army has seen major transformations that have allowed women to grow more within its ambit. Women are joining in more numbers, but they are also being retained in larger numbers.

Talking about the achievement, the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said that he was delighted at the Army’s inclusion to the list.

“I am delighted that the Army has again been included in this important list in recognition of the progress the Army continues to make to ensure that every single person counts. No institution is beyond reform and improvement and the Army is changing for the better,” he said.

Gender Equality Campaign Director, Business in the Community, Charlotte Woodworth said; “This year marks ten years of the awards, and the bar was especially high. A decade of expertise and experience underpins Business in the Community’s assessment, which sees organisations reviewed across a wide range of areas including transparency around pay practices, family-friendly policies and to what extent the gender equality agenda is embedded into wider strategy.”

It was just a year ago that all roles in the Army were made available to women who wanted to serve. The historic move has been coupled with a general shift towards more equity in terms of gender in the force. The Army does not just give women an equal opportunity to prove themselves, it also provides a support system to ensure their work and life balance is not affected as they do it. Things like part-time work, more flexible maternity policy, etc. have become a part of the picture over the years.

The British Army is known for setting the standards for the world. And this move too will have a ripple effect across the globe. We will continue to support our soldiers, and we congratulate the Army on this achievement.