The manifesto was developed in response to findings from CIEEM’s State of the Profession Report 2025, which highlighted a range of gender-related challenges experienced across the sector. Approximately 30% of respondents reported experiencing barriers or challenges in their careers linked to their gender identity. The survey also highlighted a number of wider gender-related issues for women and trans people across the profession, including career progression, pay equity, workplace culture, inappropriate behaviour, and access to suitable facilities on external sites.

The Gender Manifesto sets out a series of commitments for employers, including tackling inappropriate behaviour, reviewing policies and practices to ensure gender equity, supporting flexible working, promoting equitable representation in decision-making, fostering open discussions about workplace experiences, and providing clear guidance to external stakeholders on expectations of treatment of all their staff.

Designed as a practical resource for both employers and employees, the manifesto is accompanied by a checklist of policies and practices that organisations can use to assess and improve their approach to gender equity.

By signing up to the manifesto and embedding its principles into workplace culture, organisations can help create a profession where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive.