As a business founded on one woman's determination to make a better life for her family, EMR has a longstanding goal of recruiting and developing women to create equality and diversity throughout the organisation, and the sector as a whole.
EMR, a global leader in sustainable materials, is an international employer with sites across the UK, USA, Germany and the Netherlands. The company employs more than 3,800 people and provides many career avenues, which include engineering, site operations, marketing, commercial, shipping and health and safety.
This International Women’s Day, Michelle Grayrigge, UK HR Director, explains how EMR is leading the way in attracting more women into the metal recycling industry:
“There has been a definite shift in the sector in recent years and we’re very encouraged at EMR by the increasing number of job applications we receive from females. Recently, we’ve had the highest number of women apply for roles, with 257 in the last 12 months, a number that continues to grow.”
At EMR, it’s all about your attitude and willingness to learn, not your gender, background or where you come from. Michelle adds:
“Women and men alike are becoming more and more attracted to the careers in sustainable organisations, we continue to develop a broad range of progression and development opportunities, and for us at EMR this also includes apprenticeships, graduate schemes and placements (known as our Early Careers), giving all colleagues, new and existing, the ability to advance their skills, competencies and experiences. Our Early Careers programmes are also attracting increasing numbers of females, with 22% of our roles being offered to female candidates in specialisms such as Business Analytics, Cyber Security and HR.
“In this industry, it’s also important for younger females starting out to have role models, and at EMR we are striving towards having women across all positions and at all levels in the organisation. We're also committed to promoting our family friendly culture, one that is genuinely felt by our colleagues.”
Although the company is a multi-billion-pound, international business, EMR is still privately owned, with family values at its core advocating a positive supportive environment. This environment is another key driver for many females joining the company, especially those that are working mothers. EMR USA’s Vice President of People and Deputy General Counsel, Katherine Puccio adds:
“We are delighted to have achieved the status of a ‘Great Place to Work’ across our sites in the USA, and this shows that we really do value every member of staff and that EMR is a place where individuals can make a difference and are supported, recognised and rewarded for their hard work.”
As one of the world’s foremost recycling companies, EMR’s values, helping companies across the world to become sustainable, and the overall objective, to help save the planet and become carbon net-zero by 2040, is also a real attraction for many people wanting to join the business. One of the women at the forefront of change in the industry is EMR Energy Infrastructure Lead, Charlotte Stamper. Charlotte’s role is the first of its kind for the company and she feels empowered to succeed in this unique position, she explains:
“I love the fact that I can really make the role my own, and have the chance to do something new and innovative. The first generation of renewable assets, so commodities like wind turbines and solar panels that were installed in the UK and Europe, are now coming to the end of their usable life.
"At EMR we have the freedom to think about new business models and what the recycling industry will look like in 25 years' time - to be leading this change is so exciting!"
As a global leader in sustainable materials, EMR has many career opportunities including engineering, site operations, marketing, commercial, shipping, and health and safety. See our latest vacancies.
