Science Secretary calls on research funders to back women with better maternity leave and flexible working support

Research funders urged to back a voluntary charter including commitments to paid maternity leave for PhD students and more help to return to work and flexible working.

Science Secretary Liz Kendall will today (Wednesday 11 March) call on research institutions and funders to do more to support women in research.

In an open letter, she will urge them to back a voluntary charter including commitments to paid maternity leave for PhD students, more help to return to work and flexible working so women do not have to choose between family responsibilities and a flourishing career.

Addressing the Royal Society’s Women and the Future of Science conference in London, Science Secretary Liz Kendall will set out how government will help to knock down the obstacles that many women face in building research careers.  

The aim of the charter is simple - to agree a small number of clear, tangible commitments that government, funders and employers can sign up to so they can drive lasting culture change. This will cover ways to tackle issues facing researchers like access to paid maternity leave, support for those returning to work with caring responsibilities, greater job flexibility and addressing sexual discrimination and harassment. 

A key focus will be actions to improve support for parental leave for doctoral students, with the Science Secretary setting a firm expectation that all PhD funders, including businesses, charities and other government bodies, commit to meeting or exceeding parental leave offers currently provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).