RNLI release latest gender pay gap figures

The gender pay gap at the RNLI is -1.5%, based on an average hourly rate (the mean average) for men and women employed by the charity in Great Britain.

This means, on average, women at the RNLI are paid 1.5% more than men. This equates to 28 pence more per hour.

The gender pay gap does not show differences in pay for comparable roles at specific grades. Instead, it is used as a broad measure of earnings across a whole organisation. The UK’s average gender pay gap is 15.5%, as reported by the Office for National Statistics for 2020.

Sue Barnes, People Director at the RNLI, said: ‘We are absolutely committed to demonstrating equality for all our employees at the RNLI and value the many benefits that diversity brings our organisation.

‘We actively promote awareness on inclusion and diversity for our staff and volunteers to help create an inclusive and supportive environment at the RNLI. We are proud to provide staff with a great place to work, equality for all and equal pay for equal work.

‘We have a formal process of grading jobs at the RNLI to ensure rigorous decisions are made on job grades and rates of pay. Gender pay gap data is reviewed by our Remuneration Committee and actions to address gender pay gaps form part of our annual pay review cycle.’

Any organisation in Great Britain that has 250 or more employees must publish and report specific figures about their gender pay gap. The deadline for businesses and charities to publish their figures is October 2021, which is later than usual due to Covid-19.

The RNLI’s full report can be viewed here.

As required by the national regulations, the RNLI’s report provides:

· The mean and median gender pay gap figures

· The mean and median gender pay gaps for bonuses

· The proportion of men and women who received a bonus

· The proportion of men and women in each pay quartile

On 5 April 2020, the RNLI had 2,098 employees based in Great Britain, with 69% being male and 31% female. The RNLI’s executive team currently consists of seven members of staff – four men and three women.

The regulations require the gender pay gap figures to be published for Great Britain only. When staff from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland are included, the RNLI’s mean gender pay gap figure is 1%.

The RNLI’s 2019 gender pay gap was -3.0% and its 2018 figure was -3.1%. It changes year-on-year and is influenced by several factors such as the seasonal lifeguard start date and the date that Easter falls. For 2020, Covid-19 and the national lockdown are also factors to take into consideration.

Notes to editors

· More details and national gender pay gap figures can be found on the Office for National Statistics here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2020#:~:text=The%20gender%20pay%20gap%20among,10%25%20for%20older%20age%20groups.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Becky Cheers, RNLI National Media Manager – [email protected]. Alternatively, call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected].

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.