Men for Inclusion Partners with NESO to Drive Cultural Change in Energy Sector

We’re proud to announce a new and inspiring partnership between Men for Inclusion and the National Energy System Operator (NESO)—a collaboration grounded in a shared commitment to building more inclusive, equitable workplaces in the UK energy sector.

As NESO prepares to lead the way in delivering a zero-carbon energy system for Great Britain, the organisation is also setting bold goals when it comes to workplace culture. In their recent article “Building an Inclusive Future”, NESO shared how their work with Men for Inclusion is helping embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into the fabric of their transformation.

“You can’t build inclusion without including everyone.”

At Men for Inclusion, we couldn’t agree more.

Why this partnership matters

Founded in 2021 by Mark Freed and Gary Ford, Men for Inclusion was created to address the slow progress many organisations face in achieving meaningful inclusion. One key gap? The lack of engagement from men and senior leaders. Our mission is to change that—by turning passive support into active allyship and equipping people with the tools to lead inclusively.

NESO is already embracing that mission. As their article highlights, the need for change is urgent. A recent survey from the Women’s Utilities Network (WUN) revealed that many women across the sector still feel overlooked, undervalued, and treated differently from male colleagues.

NESO’s response? To act. To listen. To partner with organisations like ours that believe inclusive cultures are not just good for people, but critical to organisational performance.

From intention to impact

Our partnership with NESO is focused on deep, systemic change. Together, we’re asking vital questions:

• What does real inclusive leadership look like in action?

• How do we measure the impact of our inclusion efforts?

• How do we make sure everyone feels they belong—not just in the future, but right now?

As our co-founder Mark Freed put it:

“NESO isn’t just talking about building a more inclusive future—they’re doing the work, and doing it collaboratively. Their leadership, energy, and openness to new conversations make them exactly the kind of partner we love to support — brave enough to be curious and committed enough to create real change.”

Looking ahead

This is just the beginning. We’re excited to support NESO as they continue to create a workplace where every employee feels heard, respected, and empowered to thrive. The ripple effects of this work will extend far beyond their organisation—setting the standard for what inclusion can and should look like across the entire energy sector.

Thank you to Roya Ahmadi, Jo Greenan, Sana Razak, and Brit Pickering for your trust and commitment. We can’t wait to see what we’ll build together.