Shining a light on equality: Why gender diversity benefits Scotland’s photonics industry

Scotland’s photonics industry is a world-class hub of innovation, powering technologies from telecommunications to medical imaging and sensing. Renowned as one of the world’s leading centres for photonics, the sector generates over £1.5 billion in turnover per year and employs 7,200 people in high-value-added jobs. As we support the sector to grow, one factor is becoming increasingly clear: gender equality isn’t just a social goal, it’s a business and innovation imperative.

Innovation Benefits from Diverse Perspectives

Innovation is at the heart of Scotland’s thriving photonics sector, driving groundbreaking technologies and maintaining the country’s global leadership. Research shows that gender-diverse leadership boosts innovation: a 2017 BCG study found that companies with a higher proportion of female managers (8 out of every 20) generated roughly 34% of their revenues from innovative products and services over a three-year period. Furthermore, companies with more women in leadership positions are more likely to achieve disruptive innovation, where new products or business models transform existing markets.

Addressing the Skills Shortage

Scotland’s photonics sector is expanding rapidly. The Scottish Government STEM Report (2022) projects a 20–25% shortfall in specialised STEM roles over the next decade. Yet women currently make up only around 20% of the workforce in the sector (Photonics Scotland Annual Survey, 2023), meaning the industry is missing out on nearly half of its potential talent pool. By promoting gender equality, photonics companies can attract and retain highly skilled workers, directly easing workforce pressures.

Workplace Culture and Collaboration

Gender-diverse teams are more collaborative, inclusive, and communicative, resulting in higher productivity and engagement. Research shows that organisations with inclusive cultures report a 59.1% increase in creativity, innovation, and openness. Studies have also found that mixed gender teams are also better at managing conflict and maximising collective creativity, making them more effective and resilient in fast-paced, innovative environments.

Strengthening Scotland’s Global Competitiveness

Scotland’s photonics industry is not just a national asset, it is a key player on the global stage. Gender equality in leadership is a strategic advantage: companies with diverse management teams are 19% more likely to drive innovation (Boston Consulting Group, 2018) and those in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability (McKinsey, 2018). Profitable, diverse companies are better positioned to invest in R&D, scale globally, and attract international partners.

Inspiring the Next Generation

With women representing only 20% of the workforce, visible role models are essential to inspiring the next generation. Exposure to successful female STEM professionals boosts girls’ confidence and interest in STEM subjects (Stout et al., 2017). In the UK, girls with female STEM teachers or mentors are more likely to choose science and technology pathways, demonstrating the direct influence of representation (WISE Campaign, 2018). By showcasing the exciting and impactful work being done in photonics, we can motivate more young women to enter the field, helping to secure a diverse and talented workforce for the future.

Gender equality is not just the right thing to do - it is a driver of innovation, talent, and competitiveness. By promoting diversity in leadership, supporting inclusive workplace cultures, and inspiring the next generation, Scotland’s photonics sector can harness its full potential, maintain its global leadership, and continue to deliver groundbreaking technologies. Investing in gender equality today is investing in the future of the industry, ensuring that Scotland remains at the forefront of photonics innovation for decades to come.

Photonics Scotland, in collaboration with the Institute of Physics, Innovate UK Business Connect and the University of Glasgow, run Opening up Photonics, a platform supporting the Scottish photonics industry to discuss, challenge and address as a community, barriers faced by minority groups, with the aim of increasing accessibility, championing diversity, and ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for all. Our mission is to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within Scotland’s photonics sector and, in doing so, support the sector to achieve its aim to treble in size by 2030.

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