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Inclusion Week: BM signs three key EDI commitments

Today sees the start of Inclusion Week (27 September-02 October). To mark the event independent catering business, Bartlett Mitchell, has announced the signing of three key EDI commitments. These include signing up to the Business in the Community’s ‘Race at Work’ Charter, the WiHTL’s ‘Diversity Charter’ and joining the Government’s ‘Disability Confident’ scheme.

The commitments form part of Bartlett Mitchell’s ongoing strategy aimed at ensuring the company is creating an inclusive environment for its teams and clients.

Now in its 9th year, Inclusion Week celebrates everyday inclusion in all its forms by providing a platform for organisations from across the globe to celebrate and share their inspirational inclusion practices.

Bartlett Mitchell aims to use the week-long initiative to act as a platform to profile its new commitments, and highlight its ongoing work in the area.

Led by Sandra Kerr CBE, the ‘Race at Work’ Charter requires signatories to make five commitments, ranging from appointing an executive sponsor for race, capturing ethnicity data and publicising progress, committing at board level to zero tolerance of harassment and bullying, making clear that supporting equality in the workplace is the responsibility of all leaders and taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression.

The WiHTL’s ‘Diversity Charter’ is devoted to increasing women’s and ethnic minorities’ representation at all levels and in leadership positions across hospitality, travel and leisure. As part of its 10-point charter, Bartlett Mitchell has committed to a wide range of actions, including supporting the progression of women into senior roles by focusing on the executive and the mid-tier level pipeline, publishing its Gender Pay Gap annually, and ensuring that it works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to tackle barriers to diversity.

By signing up to the Government’s ‘Disability Confident’ employer scheme, the company has committed to challenging attitudes towards disability, increasing understanding of disability in the workplace, removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, and ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations

The company launched its ED&I Steering Committee in July 2020 and, since then, it has undertaken a series of awareness campaigns and training designed to tackle diversity issues and foster a more inclusive workplace for its teams customers and clients.

Murray Soper, Talent & Team Manager, said: “We are delighted to sign three huge important agreements directly aiming to address diversity challenges facing our sector.

“Moving forward, the focus is to expand our activity and to include the additional measuring and monitoring of our own team, enabling us to understand our own diversity profile even further. We aim to continue in a more informed way to remove barriers to recruitment, retention and advancement of underrepresented groups across our business.”

Ian Thomas, CEO, Bartlett Mitchell, added: “These commitments are not a nice-to-have but an absolute strategic priority for our business.

“BM has always fostered a culture of inclusivity and we hope that, by commitment to further improve our activity in this area, we can help drive further positive change in our industry.”

Six steps to facilities management in the post-pandemic world

As workplaces open up and restrictions lift the role of the FM has become more important than ever.

The challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic are now providing a valuable opportunity for FMs to demonstrate their skills and adaptability. Whilst on a practical level FMs are responsible for making buildings safe and comfortable, they are also crucial in attracting people back to the office.

In speaking with industry leaders, it is clear that there are six key areas of focus. Zip has published a white paper which looks at each one, suggesting ways that facilities managers can tackle the complexities and pace of a return to the workplace, whilst demonstrating clear and effective leadership along the way.

To find out more download the white paper here.

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