Excellence in Diversity Awards

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  • Transport for London

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diverse Company Award for Public

    In 2012, Transport for London created its Single Equality Scheme (SES) which set out their plan to improve equality for all of London’s diverse communities. They have reviewed progress made over the last three years to develop equality objectives and an action plan to take this forward to 2020. TfL remain dedicated to increasing the proportion of women in their workforce. They have leading maternity/paternity policies, encourage flexible working, piloted Women on Boards membership, run a Springboard programme, and developed an Unconscious Bias film for use in recruitment. A key focus recently has been the 100 Years of Women in Transport campaign (YOWIT) – spearheaded by TfL. The YOWIT campaign achieved a Guinness World Record, been internationally recognised by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank and hosted a number of events to engage, motivate and inspire current and future generations. Over 14 months the campaign’s network has grown to over 12,500 people and 270 organisations – an incredible achievement.

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  • Allianz

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diverse Company Award for Private Sector

    Allianz Insurance is one of the largest general insurers in the UK, and part of the Allianz SE Group, one of the leading integrated financial services providers worldwide and the largest property and casualty insurer in the world. In their 2016 employee engagement survey, 87% of employees agreed that the company has created an environment where people with diverse backgrounds can succeed. This encouraging feedback supports the company’s journey towards greater inclusion. They have implemented a number of powerful initiatives over the years, showcasing their deep commitment to enhancing a diverse workforce. Their Diversity Steering Group consists of representatives from all main departments, and Group-wide, they operate a Global Diversity Council creating a network of diversity managers and specialists around all Allianz companies. Allianz has donated over £1m to support local hospices across the UK, and in 2013 were named one of the Fortune Global 200 companies with the highest percentage of female board directors.

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  • Brenda Metcalfe

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diversity Champion Award for Housing

    Brenda is the Customer Engagement Manager for Anchor. Her role has a national remit, and aims to ensure that all older people living with Anchor have a voice, are consulted and have the opportunity to share ideas and shape services. Brenda created the group as a result of a tenant giving feedback about how lonely and isolating it can be to move into sheltered housing as an older LGBT person. She started Anchor’s LGBT group to encourage Anchor’s LGBT community to meet together in an inclusive and overtly LGBT friendly environment. She wanted to promote the aims of the group, which are to provide a safe and welcoming environment for older LGBT people. The group has massively benefitted Anchor and its customers, and are still recognised as one of the very few housing organisations that offer LGBT support specifically for older people. It is clear that Brenda is passionate about giving people a voice, and ensuring that her employer celebrates the rich diversity of all people living and working with Anchor.

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  • Royal Holloway University of London

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diverse Company Award for Education

    Situated in Egham, Surrey The Royal Holloway University of London prides itself on its tradition of providing excellent education on the basis of merit. They have a genuine commitment to valuing diversity and promoting equal opportunities for all in employment and admissions, and in teaching, learning and research activities. With a ‘Dignity at Work Policy’ in place within the university, which includes a programme of workshops for managers on how to handle complaints, they have ensured that there is sufficient procedures in place for any reports of discrimination. Diversity and Inclusion is promoted throughout the organisation via several different initiatives including a compulsory Equality and Diversity online training module, staff networks, workshops, and social events. With several diversity networks available internally, including ‘LGBT Staff Network’, ‘BME Network’ and ‘Disability Forum’ it is evident that this university recognises the true value of diversity and the strength that it brings.

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  • L&Q’s Spectrum Network

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Outstanding Diversity Network Award

    Spectrum leads L&Q’s work on LGBT issues. Its co-chairs sit on the Equality and Diversity Working Group. The network has worked with L&Q’s team to review staff and family-friendly policies to make sure they include LGBT-specific language. As a result, L&Q’s policies covering maternity, paternity, adoption and carer’s leave have been revised, as well as its harassment and bullying policy. In the last year, Spectrum members helped establish HouseProud, a national LGBT network group for the social housing sector to swap best practice and innovation. Spectrum also opened its meetings to include L&Q’s contractors and worked with them to makeover a garden at an L&Q-owned hostel for homeless young gay men in East Ham. Their visible presence has resulted in fundamental changes in attitudes across the organisation. In 2015, they ensured L&Q made Stonewall’s list of top 100 employers for the first time ever, ranking 69th – up from 194th two years earlier. It made the list again in 2016, reaching 64th – a real measurable achievement.

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  • Kevin Bowsher

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Lifetime Achiever Award

    Kevin worked within policing for 30 years, much of this time connected to equality and diversity activity. He played a leading role in developing the Metropolitan Police’s approach to diversity and inclusion. An accomplished manager with experience of working in both public and private sectors, he is currently driving diversity and inclusion at Network Rail. Kevin is regularly praised for leadership capability, and his work over the years has ranged from delivering key change projects to protecting members of the Royal Family. He was Awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2006 NY Honours List. Kevin has significant experience of the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence’s murder and the subsequent inquiry. He played a key role in delivering fundamental changes to policing that came about as a result. Since retiring from the police service, Kevin has kept up the momentum for change. He was involved in the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, described as the most inclusive games ever.

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  • RCT Homes

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diverse Company Award for Housing

    Situated in South Wales, RCT Homes provides housing services to more than 20,000 people. Striving to achieve equality of opportunity for an increasingly diverse customer and employee group, RCT Homes provides tailored services which meet each individual’s preferences and needs, in turn helping to develop good relationships between people who have different backgrounds, values and experiences. ‘Grow Enterprise Wales’ (GrEW) is one of RCT Homes subsidiary companies, set up to offer training and real work experience in real jobs for those who are out of work. A social enterprise, with a multi million pound turnover, GrEW ploughs all profits back in to the enterprise to create more education, training and real work experience opportunities. With a heavy focus on the reduction of socio economic inequalities and financial inclusion, this housing organisation is evidently committed to ensuring that all tenants and employees are treated fairly, aiming to identify, understand, value and respect differences.

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  • Talent Media

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Best Diversity Resource Award

    Founded by Darren Waite, Talent Media is the market-leading, online and print media company specialising in promoting Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, as well as Careers, Education and Skills. Their focus and experience is reaching and engaging core audiences including readers from LGBTQ and BAME communities, women and young people across the UK. Talent Media has been producing a range of official diversity resources since 2009, incorporating LGBT History Month, Black History Month and most recently adding Women’s History Month to its portfolio. They publish three annual magazines which are distributed to history month events, public libraries, community hubs, educational establishments and online. Whilst each magazine is focused on a specific community group, Talent Media strive to be inclusive of all aspects of diversity and actively seek to promote multiple-identity individuals. Whilst targeted at the UK, they have readers and followers from across the globe.

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  • Megan Key

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diversity Champion Award for Public Sector

    Public Sector worker Megan has been an exemplary role model within the National Probation Service for the past 10 years, moving from Probation Officer to Equalities Manager in the Midlands division, where she is now responsible for strategic design and delivery of equality and inclusion for service users and employees. Since choosing to live visibly as a transgender woman three years ago, Megan has been active in highlighting trans issues and promoting acceptance by engaging people in various ways. The impact she’s had on the lives of trans people and members of other minority groups as a result is phenomenal. Dedicated to raising awareness at all levels and throughout the country, Megan volunteers as a trustee for Wolverhampton based charity Gender Matters, she’s works with schools in Birmingham to promote trans awareness, and represents her trades union at the TUC LGBT conference. Megan’s passion for people and her relentless optimism is well known. An incredible diversity champion who thoroughly deserves recognition.

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  • Disability Equality NW

    EiDA16 Shortlisted Nominee

    Diverse Company Award for Charity Sector

    Based in Preston, Disability Equality North West was set up in 1996 with the aim of ‘furthering the human rights of disabled people across the North West.’ The organisation is run and controlled by disabled individuals and provides a number of user-led services that help and support disabled people to achieve the charity’s aim. Working relentlessly both locally and nationally, Disability Equality North West challenges all forms of prejudice and discrimination, initially working for the rights of those with disabilities but covering many other diverse groups such as the LGBT Community and faith based sectors to offer support and raise awareness. Current services include hate crime support, peer support, group activities, training, advice and information, managed bank accounts service, and client liaison. As a leader in equality and diversity, Disability North West work tirelessly to be a true representation of the community they serve. Their crucial work and commitment to inclusion warrants them a place on this shortlist.

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