Enterprise Rent-A-Car in the UK is celebrating its inclusion in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Women list, as announced April 20. Enterprise is the sole company to be included from the automotive sector on the list, which features UK organizations that are leading the way in gender equality in the workplace, according to The Times.

All organizations within the Top 50 are able to demonstrate that gender equality is an integral part of their business strategy, with consistent commitment to progressing women in the workplace that covers their entire organization, not just in isolated areas. The list is produced in partnership with Opportunity Now, the gender campaign from Business in the Community.

“This is the seventh consecutive year we have been featured on a list celebrating those companies that are committed to female development,” said Mike Nigro, managing director, UK and Ireland, Enterprise. “It’s a hugely important area for Enterprise as we look to operate a truly diverse employee base that represents the communities in which we live and work. Achievements like this are testament to the hard work that our teams put in everyday to attract, retain and develop the best female talent, making Enterprise a female employer of choice in the UK.“

Helen Wells, director of Opportunity Now says, “Any organization included in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women list has to be commended for its commitment to actively recruiting, retaining and progressing female talent. Businesses are dependent on having a highly motivated and diverse workforce and being included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list demonstrates a focus on creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that utilizes the skills and talent of a diverse workforce. It is a clear statement that senior leaders see this as a commercial imperative, not a women’s issue.”

Enterprise was recognized by Opportunity Now for actively helping its female employees to obtain opportunities for progression. Last year, the company introduced a ‘top to future top’ mentoring program for talented women. The mentoring program has seen great results already, with a 9% increase in promotions, according to Enterprise.

To aid the success of the mentoring scheme, the company has worked to help female employees to understand how career progression works. In a recent staff survey, 83% of women said they knew what they needed to do to advance within Enterprise, compared with 80% of all UK employees.

Enterprise also understands that developing the female talent pipeline needs to start at the recruitment phase. As such, over the past year, Enterprise has increased the percentage of women recruits from 30% to 39%.

The full report and Top 50 Employers for Women can be found here: http://www.bitcdiversity.org.uk/top502012