McDonald’s UK & Ireland committed to supporting female talent through partnership with Meat Business Women

McDonald’s UK & Ireland have committed to continue to shift the dial on diversity and inclusion in the meat industry thanks to a new two-year partnership with Meat Business Women, the global professional community for women working in the meat industry.

This new partnership will help in Meat Business Women’s mission to attract, nurture and retain female talent in the meat industry, as well as giving employees at McDonald’s access to industry-leading resources.

Employees at McDonald’s will benefit from global mentoring, personal development coaching and have the opportunity to participate in networking at industry events as well as being part of a global community of women working in the same industry. This will join the roster of opportunities McDonald’s currently offers to help champion and empower employees within its business.

Laura Ryan, Founder & Chair of Meat Business Women says, “Having senior level commitment from McDonald’s UK & Ireland is a real endorsement for Meat Business Women. We’re delighted to be working with their team to pro-actively champion the sector, and make it more accessible and attractive for female talent to choose as a career destination.”

Laura Henderson, Supply Chain Director for McDonald’s UK & Ireland says, “I am proud to manage a Supply Chain Team that has many talented women at all levels, and although progression has been made within the industry since I first entered, it’s important that we continue to drive this forward. Our new partnership with Meat Business Women presents a great opportunity to support and empower those currently in the sector, as well as those considering a career within it, which will result in a truly progressive and inclusive workforce.”

In 2020, a report commissioned by Meat Business Women revealed that women make up just 36% of the meat industry’s global workforce and hold just 5% of chief executive roles. Meat Business Women is changing this by raising the profile of women in the global meat industry and connecting female talent through networking and mentoring opportunities as well as conferences and awards.

Meat Business Women is the United Nation’s recognised global professional network for women working across the meat industry. It was created to improve the sustainability of the meat sector and grow the pipeline of female talent in this male dominated arena.