This week is National Inclusion Week – a great opportunity to reflect on where we are now, where we need to be, and how we are going to get there.
We also believe it is important to recognise the many companies – from start-ups to global corporates – who are taking steps in the right direction and reinforcing their commitment to greater inclusion in their organisations.
Here are just some of the updates and activities that companies we follow have shared during National Inclusion Week.
- Mace Group has launched its new Diversity and Inclusion Report this week, which will shape its approach over the next three years. By publishing the strategy externally for the first time, the Group Board aims to send a clear message about the company’s ambition to be a leading industry voice on issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. Alongside the strategy, Mace has published its latest set of gender and ethnicity pay gap data, six months in advance of the statutory reporting deadline. The company has also been sharing other Inclusion Week activities, including releasing the Pride at Mace Network’s new logo which now displays the Progress Flag.
- Sir Robert McAlpine has shared how the company has worked with ReciteMe to use accessibility software to support visitors and employees when they use the company website. This provides barrier-free website access for people with visual impairments, dyslexia and other forms of neurodiversity.
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published a report on promoting disability inclusion in law firms. This is a very worthwhile read, which sets out disability inclusive measures that law firms can put in place for employees, clients and others they deal with in the course of their work.
- Wates Group has extended the week to a Wates National Inclusion Month as it aims to do more. Find out more about the company’s WatesTogether inclusion strategy.
- The Law Society’s Diversity & Inclusion team has shared some useful, easy tips for gender inclusion, covering the value of inclusive language, work/life balance, equal access to opportunities and more. Helpfully, they have also made their ‘D&Ictionary’ newsletter feature available for everyone to access. This provides information on terms and phrases within the D&I sphere to increase learning, awareness and inclusion.
- LGBT Construct’s Christina Riley, an engineer and passionate advocate for transgender inclusion, is releasing bitesize videos all week on diversity and inclusion. Christina joined a panel discussion at our Diverse Construction LIVE event earlier this year – she is highly knowledgeable, inspirational and a very good source of information and advice on making your organisation more inclusive for transgender colleagues.
- Amey’s CEO, Amanda Fisher, has launched the company’s new inclusion strategy: Embracing Difference. In the video Amanda shares the progress made by the organisation’s affinity groups, and how inclusion ambassadors will sit at the heart of the strategy and drive a culture change.
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has published its Black Lives Matter pledge, and has shared videos of every member of its Trust Board declaring their own personal pledge in support of this, which is fantastic to see.
- Uniper Energy is focusing on the very important topic of neurodiversity this week, with colleagues joining lunchtime webinars to share their personal experiences to help understanding and inclusion within the business.
- Law firm Watkins & Gunn, one of our Ambassadors, has recently formally defined its company values, and this week has been focused on its value of being inclusive, defined as: “We treat everyone fairly and with respect. We champion diversity and encourage different views and insights.” It is good to see a leading firm setting a great example by putting inclusion front and centre in its values.
- Spirit Energy has spent Inclusion Week celebrating ‘The Power of Allies’. Throughout the week, colleagues have been sharing their stories and their views on being allies.
- As VolkerWessels UK celebrates Inclusion Week, it is also reaching the end of its own ‘EDI month’. Through its digital EDI champions’ conference, online Inclusive Leadership roundtable event and a range of activities across the business, they are underlining their commitment to ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment, where everyone feels welcome and valued. Read more here.
At Diversity Network, we are passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion, and creating a better workplace for all.
Through our work, we aim to shine a light on the most exciting changes in business towards parity through a valuable mix of case studies, online events, debates, interviews and insights from industry professionals on the front line of change.
Over the last few months, we have been proud to host our Diverse LIVE series of events, for the Construction, Utilities, Law, Finance, Tech, and Healthcare & Pharma sectors. All of the sessions from these events are available on-demand – free and accessible at any time.
We strongly recommend taking some time, if you can, to listen back to some of these sessions for inspiration and guidance on making your own organisation more inclusive.
Diversity Network will continue our work to ensure the conversation continues, not just this week, but continuously as we move forward in these extraordinary times.
