Centrica congratulates Jill Shedden on being awarded the MBE for 'women and equality' in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list, particularly, for her work with the Women’s Business Council (WBC). The WBC was set up by the Government in 2012 to advise ministers on how to maximise women’s contribution to the future economic growth of the country.
Iain Conn, Centrica Group Chief Executive said “This is appropriate recognition of Jill's career-long dedication to providing people with opportunity and development. In particular, it recognises her efforts in the development of women in business. Please join me in congratulating Jill on this achievement.”
Jill has led work for the WBC on initiatives for carers, older workers and ‘Hit Return’. Hit Return was the first cross-business programme in partnership with Mars and Vodafone for ‘Women Returners’ to support experienced professionals to get back to work after a career break.
Jill has also been the sponsor of WBC’s ‘Getting on’ programmes such as the Cross –Business Mentoring Programme and The Pearls Programme which seeks to provide career support and direction for women in management.
Other initiatives that Jill has embraced include the Powerful Women Pledge, where Jill led our pledge to increase the number of female engineers by supporting at least 50 women with career development and mentoring.
Jill hosted a think tank event ‘Over 50 and undervalued’ which was attended by Carers UK, Age UK and over 30 leading employers from the Thames Valley to discuss the challenges and successes on key issues for the over 50s.
Throughout Jill’s career she has championed diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on women in energy and flexibility to support carers.
Jill joined British Gas plc’s graduate scheme in 1988 and rose to be responsible for the delivery of a comprehensive HR service throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
When British Gas plc was demerged in 1997 to form Centrica and BG plc, Jill remained with Centrica. Jill introduced the concept of employee engagement within Centrica, which has since become a priority in all Group businesses, achieving significant improvements in productivity and performance across the Group.
Prior to her appointment in 2011, as Group Human Resources Director and member of the Centrica Executive Committee, Jill had extensive experience leading the HR functions for the downstream energy supply and services businesses and latterly in our upstream business where she helped to establish ‘The CE Way’ which enabled a strong cultural change programme to be delivered to all upstream employees.
Since her appointment as Group Human Resources Director Jill has helped to establish and Chair Centrica’s Ignite Investment Committee, a pioneering impact investment fund set up by Centrica in 2013 to invest in energy-related social enterprises in the UK, enabling the twin objectives of profit and social good.