National Grid's Inclusion Week goes international
For the past five years, we’ve celebrated Inclusion Week in the UK. This year the celebrations grew bigger and better, with colleagues based in both the UK and the NorthEastern US taking part in a week-long programme of activities.
From 27 September to 1 October, more than 5000 National Grid colleagues took part in specially-designed Inclusion Week talks and training sessions, to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion – and how to take action.
What is inclusion week?
A national week introduced by Inclusive Employers, Inclusion Week is an annual opportunity to take everyday, practical steps to create an inclusive environment around you and understand more about the importance of inclusion in the workplace.
How did National Grid play a part in Inclusion Week?
We want to become a force for change and action, and we know that we can do this by uniting to share learning, best practice, successes and challenges. Every single colleague who takes part helps us take one big step towards creating a more inclusive culture.
We want to start talking more openly about how the positive impact our differences can have in both our workplace culture and wider society.
The conversation continues … join us at #UnitedForInclusion
Inclusion Week conversations and training sessions included:
Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder and CEO of INvolveNational Grid’s Chief Diversity Officer Natalie Edwards met Suki to discuss, among other things, the importance of seeing inclusion as more than just ‘box-ticking’ – actually making sure that diverse voices are being heard. |
Banter – balancing wit or wisdomExploring the concept of ‘banter’ and where to draw the line; the potential risks and how to manage it positively. |
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Hispanic and Latino communitiesLearning more about the possible reasons and the actions that are being taken to counteract this situation. |
Training sessions with inclusion-focused companies Stonewall and Inclusive EmployersThese tackled subjects such as:
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Taking our learnings into Global Diversity Awareness Month and beyond
Being more inclusive doesn’t stop when Inclusion Week is over. We’re committed to building and developing an inclusive culture, with a diverse workforce that fully reflects the communities we serve – something that’s aligned to our Responsible Business Charter.
Diversity is championed and led by our own people, with 17 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are voluntary and employee-led. These groups provide a crucial support network for everyone who works at National Grid, both in the US and the UK. They champion and support the needs of many areas – including LGBTQ+, disability and gender, veterans and new starters – through events and campaigns held throughout the year.
Inclusion is everybody’s business.
National Grid CEO John Pettigrew reflects: “Inclusion is everybody’s business. The responsibility to build an inclusive culture extends beyond the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, Senior Leaders and our Employee Resource Groups; it’s a collective responsibility commitment. And if we’re to achieve our ambition of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive company, we must each remain focused and committed, and hold ourselves accountable.
“Inclusion Week has been a fantastic opportunity for each of us to reflect and build awareness; now let’s continue to learn and take action throughout Global Diversity Awareness Month.”
Find out more about Inclusion and Diversity at National Grid
