EDGE Certification | Global Business Certification Standard for Gender Equity

Despite companies’ aspirations for gender equality in the workplace there continues to be a significant gap between commitment and results. This is referred to as the Corporate Gender Gap. Legislation and regulation is one approach to closing the gap, but we believe a market led solution is as opportunity for a company to get a competitive edge in the market place.

By using the EDGE Assessment Methodology a clear picture emerges of a company’s commitment as measured in terms of equal pay for equivalent work, recruitment and promotion, leadership development training & mentoring, flexible working and the company culture.

The importance of gender equality in the workplace is also inextricably linked to the growing role of women as consumers. With a total projected income of USD 18 trillion in 2014, women constitute the largest emerging consumer market and represent the driving force behind the vast majority of household purchases, even in industries with traditionally male buyers. They also have specific buying patterns and preferences.

The Edge Certification Standard

EDGE Certified Standard was developed and tested through 2009 and 2010 with the input of experts in gender equality from leading academic institutions and top multinational companies. EDGE Certified Standard ensures that companies certified at the EDGE Standard have a structured and systematic approach to measure, track and close the corporate gender gap by looking at both quantitative and qualitative indicators, including:

• Equal pay for equivalent work
• Recruitment & promotion
• Leadership development training & mentoring
• Flexible working
• Company culture

Intertek is the first certification body fully approved to certify companies against the EDGE Standard. We can work with your company to succeed in closing the Corporate Gender Gap.

About EDGE Certification

EDGE is the only global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality.  

The EDGE assessment methodology was developed by the EDGE Certified Foundation and launched at the World Economic Forum in 2011. EDGE has been designed to help companies not only create an optimal workplace for women and men, but also to benefit from it. 

EDGE stands for Equity, Diversity and Gender Equality and is distinguished by its rigour and focus on business impact. The methodology uses a business, rather than theoretical, approach that incorporates benchmarking, metrics and accountability into the process. It assesses policies, practices and numbers across 5 different areas of analysis: equal pay for equivalent work, recruitment and promotion, leadership development training and mentoring, flexible working and company culture.

EDGE Certification has received the endorsement of business, government and academic leaders from around the world. To learn more go to www.edge-cert.org.