Beyond targets – equality, diversity and inclusion
Our approach to diversity goes far beyond setting targets and ticking a box, it’s about understanding the real challenges and putting our people at the very heart of our strategy. For us, it’s not just looking at the goal of becoming a well-balanced, represented business but taking into account the complexity of the agenda and using a multifaceted approach.
Our focus is not just on increasing diversity but ensuring as a business that we continue to build upon our equal, inclusive culture that attracts, supports and retains people from all backgrounds, putting our them at the very core of what we do.
Advancing our ambitions to become an equal, diverse and inclusive business is about driving forward a culture where all of our people feel valued, respected and supported. At the very core of it is enhancing an environment that celebrates everyone’s individuality and brilliance and putting the right support and tools in place that foster the different experience’s, perspectives and thoughts that a diverse team of people bring to the table.
Leadership and collaboration
Clear, strong and supportive leadership is a key part of our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, ensuring that it always remains at the top of our agenda and that we are accountable for continuously progressing. A significant part of this was in the appointment of our E,D&I chair to lead the way in driving forward fundamental, positive change.
We’ve also set up an E,D&I committee in collaboration with our supply chain to ensure that our people, their thoughts and ideas are represented and heard. It was absolutely essential that we made sure everyone has a voice and is able to play a role in shaping our journey to becoming a truly equal, diverse and inclusive business.
Organisational culture
We see our organisational culture as our greatest asset in pursuing and succeeding in our equality, diversity and inclusivity ambitions. We’ve built the foundations of a great culture where our people are supported, appreciated and celebrated for who they are, the viewpoints they have and the value that each of them adds to the business. Our culture is key to attracting and retaining a wider pool of talent, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background is in an environment free from unconscious bias that they can thrive in and reach their full potential. We truly value the important impact that it has on fostering creativity, innovation, problem solving and decision making.
Empowering our people
We also take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying and harassment of any kind to ensure that all our people feel safe and confident being their entire selves. To support us in this we launched EARS last year, our, E,D&I Anonymous reporting system, an online platform to empower our people to speak up and report any type of bullying, harassment, discrimination, misconduct, bias and improper use of language or other forms of equality, diversity & inclusion issues in the workplace or on site.
