The Institute of Cancer Research has been granted an Athena Swan Silver Award for a further four years, in recognition of the ICR’s continued progress in embedding gender equality and fostering an inclusive research culture.
This 2025-2029 award builds on the ICR’s 2019 Athena Swan Silver Award, reflecting the impact of the organisation’s efforts across all areas, from research and education teams to professional services.
The Athena Swan Charter, run by Advance HE, recognises and celebrates good practice in higher education and research institutions towards the advancement of gender equality.
Achievements made since the last Silver Award
Since the ICR last submitted its Athena Swan application the institute has made important strides to improve gender equality, these include:
- Improved recruitment: Updated recruitment policies, enhanced outreach, and inclusive job descriptions have helped increase the proportion of women hired into faculty positions – with more women than men recruited at faculty level over the past two years.
- Supportive working culture: Flexible working arrangements are now standard across the organisation. Staff surveys show that 86 per cent feel they can work flexibly, with minimal gender disparity.
- Career development: Our flagship Pathway to Independence programme has supported the development of future research leaders, with nearly half of the women taking part moving into team leader roles. The ICR has also introduced new programmes that have expanded tailored career development for underrepresented groups.
- Technical staff recognition: Through the Technician Career Pathways project (led by the ICR’s Chief Executive, Professor Kristian Helin), the organisation has increased visibility and development support for technicians, a female-majority group vital to the research ecosystem.
- Building a kinder, safer culture: The launch of Report + Support, active bystander training, and wellbeing initiatives have strengthened the ICR’s commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace.
Professor Christina Yap, Co-Chair of the Athena Swan Steering Group at the ICR, said:
"We are proud to receive the Athena Swan Silver Award. This recognition reflects the dedication and collective effort that went into our submission, and more importantly, the commitment to advancing gender equality. It's been a privilege to be part of this journey – gathering evidence, reflecting on our practices, and seeing the positive changes taking place."
Alan Cumber, Co-Chair of the Athena Swan Steering Group at the ICR, said:
"This is a shared achievement for everyone across the ICR, and we will work together to ensure it inspires continued momentum and collective pride!"
Continuing to make progress
The ICR recognises that there’s more work to do and, following this renewal, the research institute has shared its new Athena Swan action plan, which sets out ambitious targets for the next four years.
The priorities in the new plan include:
- Increasing representation of women and minority ethnic staff in senior and leadership roles
- Closing the gender pay gap through targeted action plans and greater transparency around pay processes, including better monitoring of pay decisions and progression by gender and ethnicity, with the aim to reduce mean gender pay gap from 21.3 per cent to 15 per cent by 2029
- Enhancing support for flexible working and parental responsibilities
- Improving visibility and impact of staff equality networks
- Embedding inclusive recruitment, promotion, and pay policies institute-wide
- Better tracking of career progression and development opportunities through a new HR system
A cause for celebration and a call to action
Dr Barbara Pittam, Chief Research and Academic Officer at the ICR and Executive Sponsor of the Athena Swan Steering Group, said:
"The renewal of our Silver Award is both a celebration and a call to action. I am delighted that we have achieved the Silver Award this year but what matters more to me is seeing that we have a solid plan to do even more in future.
"With equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our strategy, we will continue working together to create a world-leading research and education environment that values every individual and enables everyone to succeed."
Read more about our continuing work to create an inclusive culture where all staff and students at the ICR feel supported to reach their potential.