Gender Equality – Aksoy Holding

United Nations - Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Aksoy Holding became part of the Women’s Empowerment Principles platform, which was implemented in 2010 through the cooperation of the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Gender Equality and UN Women in 2016. In this context, Aksoy Holding supports gender sensitive workplace practices and WEP principles. Turcas supports the communication strategies of the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

Principles:

Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non-discrimination
Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
Promote education, training and professional development for women
Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women
Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

Women on Board Association Turkey (WOB Turkey) - Intercompany Mentorship Program for More Women on Boards of Directors

Under the “Intercompany Mentorship Program for More Women on the Boards of Directors”, which was initiated by WOB Turkey, prominent leaders from the Turkish business world mentor women executives from different companies to help them prepare themselves for roles on company boards. As part of this initiative, our Founding Chairman Erdal AKSOY, has shared his deep knowledge and experience on being a board member,

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. Aksoy Holding continues to actively take part in national and international platforms for the empowerment of women in line with the goal of ensuring gender equality in all areas of life. It supports the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and offers informative employee seminars and collaborations with the relevant non-governmental organizations until Human Rights Day on December 10. #orangetheworld.

Women Energy at Shell

“Women Energy at Shell”, which was launched in March 2018 as the first of its kind in Türkiye to encourage employment of women in the fuel sector has provided employment for more than 8,000 women at Shell & Turcas fuel stations since its kick-off. Initiated with the goal of creating employment opportunities for 5,000 women in 2023, Women Energy at Shell has now become an integral part of the operation and triggered a transformation in the sector.

Shell & Turcas, where women hold 42 percent of the Board of Directors and 50 percent of the Executive Board, supports the belief that occupations are not defined by gender.

Adopting the principle of bringing always “firsts” and being “an inspiration” to the sector, Shell pioneered a transformation in the fuel sector with “Women Energy at Shell” and thus, inspired the sector. Launched on March 9, 2018, under the guidance of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services and in cooperation with İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency), “Women Energy at Shell” encourages women to work in different roles such as station manager, front- line and market salesperson, shift supervisor, accounting staff and administrative affairs specialist.

Shell & Turcas continued to create employment opportunities for women with its retail stations in spite of the worst impact that the pandemic had on women. Customer satisfaction was 3 percent higher at stations where women worked in 2019 and 6 percent higher in 2020 when compared with those without women. “Women Energy at Shell” remains a source of inspiration, supporting women at all levels in this male-dominated industry.

Women Energy at Shell has also received prestigious awards for its contributions to women’s employment, including the National Employment Campaign, Sustainable Business Awards-Women’s Empowerment, Felis Awards, and Women-Friendly Brands awards. “Exemplary Company in Energy Award” was presented by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to Shell Türkiye at the Women Giving Energy to Türkiye Award Ceremony in 2022. Marmara University Women’s Studies Application and Research Center in Economic and Social Fields Director (ESKAR) Prof. Dr. Fatma Ayanoğlu included Women Energy at Shell as a best practice in her book titled “Women in Business, Analysis of Various Industries during Covid-19”.

As part of its commitment to gender equality, Shell & Turcas continues to support the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV). On the welcome desks at the renovated stations, lavender boxes prepared by women at KEDV, a foundation working to create a society without inequalities and poverty since 1986, were displayed to symbolize women’s empowerment to change society and the world. By doing so, the Company raised awareness and provided sustainable employment opportunities to women.