INCLUSION MATTERS: EPISODE 6 - STORIES OF IMPACT & DEI IN ACTION

The theme for this year’s Inclusion Week is ‘Impact Matters’ which centres around understanding, identifying and measuring impact on marginalised groups and taking actions that make for genuine, sustainable change that matters. In this episode hosted by our Chief People Officer, CJ Bedford, talks to Michelle Boothroyd and Simon Fanshawe about their experiences of introducing ED&I strategies – the benefits, impact and lessons learned - and the critical importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) in today’s world of work. CJ is personally involved in DE&I strategies at Eton Bridge Partners and is focussed on ensuring that we build an inclusive culture, have a diverse workforce whilst developing services for our clients that ensure that they are getting the diverse candidates that they need to bring the best talent into their business. This is linked to our purpose; to put talented people at the heart of business. Michelle, accomplished CHRO and FTSE leader, is currently the Chief People Officer at Grainger Plc. She brings a wealth of expertise in progressive HR leadership, underscored by her dedication to pioneering DE&I initiatives. Her focus on creating an inclusive workforce is driven by a belief in empowering individuals to express their ideas authentically and thrive as their true selves. Simon, Partner at Diversity by Design and experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director, was one of the six co-founders in 1989 of the lesbian and gay equality campaign Stonewall - a key influencer in the strategy to create legal equality for lesbians and gays, which was completed by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2014. He is also an author, and has recently been carrying out research exploring the disconnect between the original intentions of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and their current implementation; revealing how DEI efforts have shifted from creating inclusion, to becoming rigid and divisive, largely due to a lack of strategic guidance and accountability from senior leadership. Find out more about Inclusion Week here: https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/