Menopause Employment Ambassador partners with industry leaders to support women to stay in work
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-24)

Thousands of women are set to benefit from plans to boost workplace support as leaders from across industry, healthcare and the legal profession came together today to form the first-ever independent Menopause Advisory Group.

- Menopause Employment Ambassador, Mariella Frostrup to work with industry leaders on how employers can support women with menopause in the workplace.
- Independent “Menopause advisory group” launched to support employers on steps they can take to help women to stay in work.
- Comes as part of wider government drive to break down barriers to work to unlock growth as part of the Plan for Change.
Thousands of women are set to benefit from plans to boost workplace support as leaders from across industry, healthcare and the legal profession came together today to form the first-ever independent Menopause Advisory Group.

Stark figures from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development show that over half of women experiencing menopause (53 per cent) have not been able to attend work due to their symptoms, with 10 per cent leaving work for good – costing businesses around £1.5 billion every year.

Convened by the government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador, Mariella Frostrup, the group discussed the impact menopause can have on workers, current efforts to support women in work and businesses can work in partnership with government to ensure women don’t fall out of the work force due to menopause.

It comes alongside the government’s wider efforts to break down barriers to work, keep people in work and create a thriving and inclusive labour market which is central to unlocking economic growth as part of the plan for change.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“For too long working women have suffered in silence or stopped working when they experience the menopause – a completely natural and normal part of life.

“A taboo and lack of understanding is holding back our nation’s growth and it’s time to tackle it head on.

“The first ever independent Menopause Advisory Group will bring together huge knowledge and experience on this vital issue so we can give women the support they need to remain and thrive in work, putting money in people’s pockets and delivering growth for our economy as part of the Plan for Change.”

Menopause Employment Ambassador, Mariella Frostrup said:

I’m delighted to have this incredible group of professionals helping me ensure that women in midlife, a time when we often have to balance so much responsibility, are properly supported at work.

Far too many experienced and capable women are forced out of employment through no fault of their own, hurting their earnings and our nation’s economy. Together we can create a more supportive and happier workplace where everyone can succeed.

Fiona Vines, Director of Inclusion and Wellbeing at BT said:

We are proud to host the launch of the Government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador’s Advisory Group. At BT Group we understand the importance of supporting women’s health in the workplace. This event is an important opportunity to bring business leaders together with key government ministers to promote awareness and implement strategies to improve workplace support for women affected by menopause.

Jon Paull, COO at Octopus Energy, said:

Menopause affects half the population, yet for too long women were expected to manage it in silence. We support our team members through this transition so they can continue to do their jobs with confidence while being the best versions of themselves at work. This isn’t just good for their wellbeing and the happiness of our teams but also incredibly good for business. A true win-win.

The launch of the group comes as the government steers its flagship Employment Rights Bill through Parliament. As well as boosting workers’ rights and protections, the Bill also includes landmark legislation that requires large employers with more than 250 employees to produce and publish Menopause Action Plans detailing how they will support employees through the menopause.

The government has also started work on its £240 million Get Britain Working plans, launching the first two trailblazers to tackle inactivity in South Yorkshire and Wales in recent weeks with the reforms set to transform Jobcentres to focus on people’s skills and careers, guarantee young people the chance to earn or learn and provide mental health support to help people to start and stay in work.

Notes to Editors:

Mariella Frostrup was named Menopause Employment Ambassador on 18th October 2024 – details can be found here Women’s health campaigner Mariella Frostrup appointed as Government Menopause Employment Ambassador - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/womens-health-campaigner-mariella-frostrup-appointed-as-government-menopause-employment-ambassador)

The group will provide Mariella Frostrup with expert knowledge from a wide range of sectors on how businesses can better support women and tackle this critical issue. The members are:
- Tina Backhouse, General Manager of Theramex
- Prof. Janice Rymer, Consultant Gynaecologist and Chair of the British Menopause Society
- Kelly Gardner, Detective Superintendent for Bedfordshire Police
- Laura Biggs, Founding Director of Menopause Mandate
- Jon Paull, Chief Operating Officer of Octopus Energy
- Juliet Balfour, NHS GP and Menopause Specialist
- Nadira Awal, NHS GP and founder of Pause and Co
- Nina Kuypers, Founder of Black Women in Menopause
- Rachel Suff, Senior Policy & Practice Adviser for CIPD
- Kristen Furber, People Director for Channel 4
- Kudsia Batool, Director of Equalities for Trade Union Congress
- Deborah Turner, National Lead for Women in Enterprise for Federation of Small Businesses
- Sue Wardlow, CEO of Greensand Multi Academy Trust
- Emma Hammond, Partner at Gunnercooke Law