GC Women EDI Network

GC is committed to supporting gender equality through a range of initiatives. The organisation’s representation is 60% female and 40% male. Supporting equality is important to GC and colleagues should feel empowered and supported in their career.

This network's purpose is to raise awareness of women’s challenges in and out of the workplace and promoting gender equality through initiatives.

The women’s network also empowers women to empower other women by coaching, supporting mentoring within the GC community, but also where we can help other women grow themselves and their career. It is a safe place where honest conversations are encouraged.

Supporting women at the different stages of their careers and working with the other networks to remove biases linked to perceptions of being too old or too young, maternity leave and returning to work, or managing carers responsibilities and working.

The women’s network aims to remove the barriers to women’s progression in the workplace by offering:

A supportive peer to peer environment in the monthly network meetings
Encouraging taking up mentoring (either as a mentor or a mentee).
Advocating for policies that have a direct impact on women.
Promoting equality and raising awareness of women’s barriers in the workplace.
Listening to colleagues and what areas of concerns are and acting on them.
Encouraging and empowering others to join the network and support.

Upcoming Campaign activity

Join the 'Choose Your Own Journey' bitesize event during National Inclusion Week

As part of our National Inclusion Week activities during 23rd - 29th September, our Women, Parents & Carers and Age EDI networks will host this event to discuss the challenges that can impact career progression. This will be a moderated, virtual panel event.

It’s open to all colleagues to attend - and there'll be something that everyone can take away from it. Regardless of our roles, personal commitments or lifestyle choices, we will all have struggled with something at work at one time or another - and will likely encounter some challenges in the future, which could potentially impact our confidence, or even derail our career plans.

This session is about how you can overcome these challenges – be better prepared and have a level of comfort and a safe place, no matter what comes your way down the line.

The panel discussion, moderated by Virginie Fayolle – Organisational Development Lead and chair of our Womens Network, will last around 45 minutes, and include Angelina Harrop, Business Advisor – GMBGH, Ali Tanvir, Underwriter – GC Business Finance and Rachel Hardy, Personal Assistant – Chief Execs Office.

This’ll be followed by an open Q&A session, where you can share your questions and thoughts with the panel and other attendees.

Attend this event to:

Get better prepared for the curve-balls and challenges which could potentially knock you off course
Hear some colleagues’ real-life stories and tips to help become more robust at work
Hear about approaches to balance caring responsibilities and the impacts at work
Understand how to combat the pressure and expectation of fitting in with an established team culture

Recent Campaign activity

Safety at Night-time event

On Tuesday 28th November we held a a virtual 'Safety at Night-time event', with guest speaker, Candida Turner - Community Safety Policy Specialist at Manchester City Council.

The purpose of the session is to to equip our colleagues with the knowledge and resources to stay safe on the streets at night – and to educate us all on what bystanders can do to help diffuse situations.

The event is a collaboration between three of our EDI Networks: Women's Network, EmbRace and LGBTQ+

More information

To find out more about the Women’s Network, or to join as a member, email WomenNetwork@growthco.uk