How did you find National Inclusion Week (NIW)? I have been inspired by the number of inclusion-focused events, communications, activities and resources that organisations have been sharing with their people.
Year on year this movement has grown. And it’s encouraging to see UK employers begin to think about the small things we can all do every day to create a more inclusive workplace.
There are now over 650 organisations actively taking part in NIW, engaging over a million employees.
Throughout the week there have some great stories shared on social media so I thought I’d share some of the highlights I have found which might give you some inspiration for your own people.
#1 – The SSAFA
The SSAFA is the Armed Forces Charity. The Armed Forces are currently making a marked push towards equality and opportunities for those outside of the typical backgrounds. The SSAFA supported this commitment to inclusion by sharing pictures of their ‘Inclusion’ cards. These simple cards highlight how colleagues make individuals feel as well as spreading awareness and understanding – important factors for inclusion.
#2 – MediaCom North
Award-winning agency MediaCom employ over 7,000 people, but as many organisations have shown, size should never be a barrier to inclusivity. MediaCom have hosted 3 workshops, which you can see here, here and here, all with different themes. From age to workplace culture, mental health to neurodiversity, MediaCom takes inclusion very seriously, and their workshops give employees the opportunity to contribute or learn.
#3 – Blake Morgan
What’s the harm in going BIG? Blake Morgan have used National Inclusion Week to highlight their annual Making a Difference Awards. In this tweet they highlight their 2017 winners – reinforcing their corporate commitment to inclusion, teamwork and making a difference both internally and in the community.
#4 – Royal College of Nursing
As the Royal College of Nursing showed this week, everyone enjoys a good quiz. Members of their library teams took part in their ‘Inclusion Awareness Week’ quiz to help drive Everyday Inclusion across the RCN and their employees.
#5 – Pepsi Co
A key element of inclusivity is the different ways in which employees can feel included. #NIW2018 has highlighted employers supporting many employee groups, ensuring work is a safe space for people to excel. Pepsi, this week, continued their commitment to supporting the Pride movement by sharing the excellent work of two of their employees, Ben and Chris, for #Pride2018.
#6 – The Co-op
The Co-op were particularly active throughout the week, hosting a National Inclusion Event at their Manchester HQ. Their Twitter feed has been full of different Co-op branches and teams learning about inclusion and taking part in the activities – much aligned to the Co-operatives values and corporate goals.
#7 – Leeds Beckett University
Our final entry is Leeds Beckett University, who have been celebrating National Inclusion Week by championing LGBT+ heritage in Leeds using a trail exploration. Leeds Beckett have celebrated Pride for over 12 years and with an estimated 77,000 LGBT+ people in Leeds, their interactive tour of the city is a great way to celebrate inclusion across the University and the city.
It’s clear from the #NIW2018 social mentions that organisations throughout the UK are taking National Inclusion Week seriously, going far beyond paying lip service to the hashtag. The challenge for organisations now the week is at an end is to maintain this momentum. Remember, the theme of NIW this week is ‘Everyday Inclusion’. Boardrooms up and down the country need to heed this. After all, as organisations wrestle for the best talent, it’s clear inclusion will play a major role in hiring and retaining key talent.
