From the left: Therese Svanström (Chief of Staff at Unionen), Fredrik Emilson (CEO at Höganäs), Åsa Lindhagen (Minister for Gender Equality), Jonas Hagelqvist (Association Director and CEO at IKEM).

The metal powder manufacturer Höganäs is awarded the Industry’s gender Equality Prize for 2019. An award that the Swedish Industrial Council presents to companies that have undertaken important initiatives to promote gender equality.

Fredrik Emilson, CEO of Höganäs, is delighted with the prize and believes that the award is an acknowledgement that the company’s gender equality work is on the right track.

“We’re convinced that gender equality is best for Höganäs and for our capacity as a company. We must be open to all, regardless of gender, physical characteristics or background; diversification quite simply creates a better workplace,” says Fredrik Emilson. “This is why we’re continuously adapting the physical work environment and striving to ensure that employees have a balance between work and private life. This prize inspires us to continue along our chosen path.”

Höganäs set concrete goals for their gender equality work. At present 16 per cent of employees at the company are female. The goal is that this figure shall be 25 per cent by 2021.

“The fact that Höganäs is working towards measurable goals shows that they are working consciously to achieve a more even gender distribution. This, together with the company’s ongoing, tangible initiatives to promote gender equality is the background to why the Industry Council of Sweden is awarding the Industry Gender Equality Prize 2019 to Höganäs,” explains Jonas Hagelqvist, Association Director and CEO at IKEM – Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden.

“Höganäs’ gender equality work shows that a broad range of initiatives produces results. This includes networks for women at the company, projects to identify obstacles and possible solutions to increase the proportion of women and putting a focus on women at recruitment fairs and in other channels,” says Therese Svanström, Chief of Staff at Unionen. “Initiatives that promote gender equality within the company itself, but that also serve to generate interest in the industry as a whole.” 

The jury’s citation:

“The Industry Gender Equality Prize 2019 goes to a company that is taking action to achieve greater gender equality. The company is working strategically and on a broad front in order to create greater gender equality within the company itself, but also in the industry as a whole. They are working with concrete activities towards measurable goals. Their work includes initiatives such as a review of recruitment processes, making women visible in the company and facilitating the balance between work and private life. The winner of the Industry Gender Equality Prize 2019 is Höganäs AB.”