At the end of 2025, the government published their long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy outlining their plans to tackle an issue that has frequently been described as a “national emergency.”
Whilst the strategy predominantly contained information about the legislation that would be introduced, it also reminded businesses and organisations of their responsibilities in tackling violence against women.
In the introduction to the strategy, the government called on businesses to play an active role in “protecting employees, supporting survivors and championing gender equality” in their workplaces.
With offences classed as violence against women accounting for over 20% of all police recorded crime, it is likely an issue that will be affecting workforces across the region and the country.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) can include:
· Domestic abuse
· Stalking
· Harassment
· Rape
· Sexual offences
· Tech-based violence/abuse
· Honour-based abuse
The government hopes that improving understanding of these forms of abuse, as well as giving businesses the knowledge of how to respond effectively to support employees, will play a role in tackling violence against women.
Why do businesses have an important role to play?
Domestic abuse and other forms of violence not only impact those experiencing it, but also have a massive effect on our society, our key services, and the economy.
Figures released alongside the Domestic Abuse Act (2021) estimated that domestic abuse costs society £66bn every year, with a staggering £14bn coming from lost output – the costs to businesses and organisations through staff absence, lack of productivity, or recruitment.
People experiencing domestic abuse are also likely to be disciplined or even lose their jobs as a result of higher levels of absence from work, poor time keeping or reduced productivity.
Knowing how to respond to domestic abuse is a challenge for many businesses, particularly when it can be hard to spot the signs someone is experiencing it and many are unsure how to provide effective support to those affected.
There will also be many that do not have policies or procedures around domestic abuse, making it difficult to know how to respond effectively and consistently.
Whilst many employers will have clear guidance around issues such as mental health, the picture around domestic abuse is unclear and could be costing businesses.
Leeway’s Training
The training provided by Leeway aims to equip businesses and organisations with the knowledge and ability to spot the signs of domestic abuse, whilst also being able to signpost employees or clients to access support.
Our Domestic Abuse Awareness sessions break down the different forms of domestic abuse, how to spot the signs – providing real life examples of what this might look like – and how to approach conversations around domestic abuse and signpost someone to support.
We also provide bespoke training sessions tailored to meet the needs of businesses and organisations, specifically covering the issues that are most relevant to their area of business.
Leeway can also provide support for businesses and organisations that are looking to draft or their policies and procedures around domestic abuse.
Not only will this support businesses and organisations to meet their duty of care to their employees, but we also believe that this can save them money too.
To enquire about our training services and how Leeway can support your business, please email [email protected]. More information can also be found on the Leeway website.