The Growth Company is committed to providing equal opportunity for all our colleagues and customers. Here at GC, we value and respect diversity – it's at the heart of everything we do. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) steering group is made up of eight networks, designed to promote and recognise the value that EDI brings to our organisation.
GC’s eight EDI Networks, which colleagues can join as a member or an ally, are:
- Age
- EmbRace (race)
- Health & Wellbeing
- LGBTQ+
- Parents and Carers
- Women
- Religion and Faith
- Military Veteran and Reservists
Within the Health and Wellbeing network, we’ve created lots of resources and tools over the past couple of years which you can access on Our Working Way: Health and Wellbeing | Our Working Way Staff Hub (growthco.uk).
We are looking for more members to join the networks and help us create a more inclusive culture and diverse workforce. If you would like to get involved you can get in touch with the network leads or email EDI@growthco.uk.
Click here to view our Terms of Reference.
All who wish to join an EDI network, please fill in this form and send it to the lead of the network you wish to join- details below.
As well as active members we will also need allies to support activities for each network. An ally is someone who is not a member of a network but who takes action to support that group. It’s up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies to those with less access and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful. We recognise the importance of everyone taking more responsibility and positive action to promote an inclusive culture across the organisation, if you would like to be an ally please email EDI@growthco.uk
Network Chairs
Each of the 8 EDI Networks now have an SMT sponsor(s) who have committed to:
- Actively support each of the networks to drive forward and promote the ongoing initiatives/campaigns aligned to the EDI Action Plan
- Demonstrate their individual SMT commitment to continuously improve our offering and ensure that we promote an inclusive culture
- Learn more about equality, diversity and inclusion and any challenges/barriers that employees may experience so areas for improvement can be identified
| Network | Link to webpage | Network Description | Chair Name(s), SMT Sponsor and Network email address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age |
|
Without Age equality, our organisation couldn’t function - everyone must feel a sense of belonging, regardless of their career background and their age. By listening to our colleagues and working with our own business networks and our partners, we’re building a deep understanding of how we can help our colleagues navigate through their career and life events. |
Matthew.Richardson@growthco.uk (Chair) Vicky.McDonald@growthco.uk |
| EmbRace (race) |
|
This Network is committed to supporting all underrepresented ethnic communities and has recently expanded their membership to colleagues from Eastern European ethnic communities. It encourages and empowers colleagues to take the time to really listen and learn about the issues and experiences that affects people of different cultures - to broaden their understanding and commitment, as well as celebrating occasions of importance. |
mysha.williams@gcemployment.uk Samira.Jama@employmentlegaladvice.org Michelle.Leeson@gcemployment.uk Victoria.Braddock@MarketingManchester.com |
|
Health & Wellbeing
|
|
This network provides peer-to-peer support which covers all aspects of health and wellbeing, including disability, physical and mental health. This network supports HR to attract, recruit and retain underrepresented disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. Monthly Wellbeing Wednesday email is a product of this network. We also have the following subgroups which you may be interested in joining: |
cheryl.madden@growthco.uk chris.jones@growthco.uk |
| LGBTQ+ |
|
Through this network GC has become one of the leading organisations in the UK for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. This network supports and educates colleagues on current issues and works to improve practice and procedures for all spectrums of sexuality and gender/gender identity related issues. |
(Chairs)
Donna.Edwards@growthco.uk |
|
Parents & Carers |
|
This group provides support to colleagues who are parents and or carers impacted by, and coping with caring responsibilities. The network covers all aspects that parents and carers are affected by and support HR to target and fine tune recruitment practice to reach and support people with these responsibilities. |
naomi.ilagoswa@gcemployment.uk (Chairs) Jon-Paul.Rimington@gceducationandskills.ac.uk (Director Skills and Education) |
| Women |
|
This network raises awareness of women’s challenges in and out of the workplace and promotes gender equality. It supports women at the different stages of their careers, helping them to grow themselves and their career and also encouraging them to empower other women through coaching and mentoring within the GC community. |
Virginie.Ghaznavi@growthco.uk Anne.Buckley@growthco.uk |
| Religion & Faith |
|
This network endeavours to better understand all faith groups and religions, create an environment in GC where colleagues can share their personal beliefs without discrimination, and provides learnings on how to act if members come across any form of discrimination. |
timothy.jeffrey@gcemployment.uk (Chairs) Joe.Manning@midas.org.uk |
| Military Veteran and Reservists |
|
This network counters the discrimination members of the armed forces face, particularly around recruitment and perception-based issues that can leave those affected disadvantaged in their day to day lives. It’s open to anyone who has served in the armed forces and/or their families
|
(Chair) Dominic.Delsoldato@growthco.uk |
Click here to find out how we’ll be celebrating National Inclusion Week 2024: 23rd - 29th September
The theme for National Inclusion Week is ‘Impact Matters’. GC provide a number of inclusion training opportunities which help you, to help us, make an impact and become a more inclusive workplace. The training includes face-to-face sessions, virtual sessions as well as online recourses and videos. Find out more here.
Click on the image below to view our rolling EDI Calendar of activities:
Click here to view our 2023 EDI Statistics.
EDI Steering Committee Action Log
Here’s a reminder of some of the additional support we offer our neurodiverse colleagues:
- We’ve created a page on Our Working Way which includes signposting to additional information – it talks about our Neurodiversity Champions and Teams Support group you can access. The recordings for the previous Neurodiversity Lunch and learns and some additional info can be found on this page.
- We’ve created a Neurodiversity Support Group on Teams, if you are interested in joining then once you’ve returned the attached ND Statement then you can be added to the group.
- We have a number of Neurodiversity Champions across the group with first hand experience, so it’s an opportunity to buddy up with another colleague. If you're interested in becoming a Champion or would be interested in buddying up with a Champion, then please let me know so we can discuss further.
- We’ve created a playlist of short videos on PAL which provides further training on the subject of neurodiversity including advice for people managers which you can find on PAL by searching ‘Neurodiversity: video series’
- The Wellness Action Plan could also be a useful tool to discuss further to better understand more about individual needs and what additional support may be put in place if needed.
Within the Health and Wellbeing network, we’ve created lots of resources and tools over the past couple of years which you can access on Our Working Way.
Advice on promoting and using our EDI Accreditations
We’re proud to be an award-winning, commercially-driven social enterprise that's committed to providing equal opportunity for all our colleagues and customers.
But don’t just take our word for it... find out more about our accreditations and commitments here.
Please share these with your teams, clients, customers and partners using the wording and downloadable images.