E.ON calls for all voices across the nation to shape the future of women in sport

E.ON brought together more than 150 leaders from sport, media, and business to launch our Women in Sport Survey: Powering Performance — a major new initiative designed to better understand the experiences of women and girls across the sporting landscape.

The event marked an important milestone in our commitment to championing greater inclusion, representation and opportunity in sport. While women’s sport continues to gain visibility and momentum, too many still face barriers that limit their ability to participate, progress, or feel supported. Powering Performance aims to help change that.

A room united in purpose

Hosted in London, the launch event sparked honest and compelling discussions about the realities facing women and girls in sport today. Our panel brought together influential voices from across the industry:

• Judy Murray OBE – Tennis Coach & Founder of Miss-Hits
• Chelsea Pitman – Head Coach, Nottingham Forest Netball
• Eni Aluko MBE – Former England Footballer & Sports Broadcaster
• Em Clarkson – TV Presenter, Journalist & Podcaster
• Denis Betts – Head Coach, Wigan Warriors Women’s Team
• Dawn Butler MP - British Labour Party politician and longstanding advocate for gender equality and increased participation in women’s sport.
• Moderator: Natasha Bird, Lifestyle Journalist & Female Automotive Consultant

Together, they explored the systemic, cultural, and everyday challenges that continue to shape women’s experiences in sport, from the importance of confidence-building at a young age to the structures needed to support women into leadership roles.

Across the room, three themes resonated most strongly:

• Real progress starts with listening: understanding lived experience is the foundation for meaningful change.
• Belief matters: supporting girls early and consistently builds confidence that lasts a lifetime.
• Action must follow conversation: commitment alone isn’t enough; the industry needs coordinated effort and accountability.

Why this survey matters

Powering Performance will gather insights from women and girls at every level of sport, from grassroots participants to elite athletes. The goal is simple: identify the barriers that still exist, understand how they show up in everyday life, and use that knowledge to help break them down.

Scott Somerville, Director of External Affairs at E.ON, shared at the launch: “It’s our responsibility to help drive progress, not just by talking about what could be done but through leading by example.”

The findings will guide how E.ON, alongside our partners and communities, can open up more accessible pathways into sport, ensure women’s voices influence the future of participation, and help create environments where everyone can thrive.

Your voice can drive real change

To truly understand the breadth of experiences across women’s sport, we need as many voices as possible — including yours. Every response helps build a clearer, more honest picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and where support is most urgently needed. Whether you’ve had positive experiences, faced obstacles, or simply care about shaping a fairer sporting future, your insight can influence real action, policy and investment.

We also highly encourage men to take part as allies, coaches, parents, teammates and supporters all play a crucial role in shaping the sporting environment, and your perspectives are essential in helping drive meaningful, lasting change.

A collective effort to build a stronger future

The conversation underscored why businesses like ours have a vital role to play. By supporting diversity of thought, background and experience, in both sport and within our own organisation, we strengthen communities and contribute to a healthier, more confident generation.

Have your say

E.ON is committed to taking the insights from this research and transforming them into long-term, systemic change.

The Powering Performance Survey is now live and open to anyone in the UK aged 16+. If you are passionate about the future of women in sport, or have experiences to share, we want to hear from you.