Celebrating National Inclusion Week 2024

We believe that inclusion is more than a goal— For us, it is not just a corporate policy; it is a core part of our culture that is embedded in every aspect of our business.

This year, the theme ‘Impact Matters’ seeks to shine a light on the positive impact of inclusion and highlight the impact of how we are working to create a workplace where people can thrive.

National Inclusion Week is a time to celebrate, reflect, and renew our efforts to create spaces where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background, identity, or abilities.

Throughout the week, volunteers from our Employee Communities have been touring depots across our Networks to talk about the impact we’re having to create an inclusive culture, where people feel psychologically safe at Cadent.

We also hosted a virtual ‘Is It OK To Ask?’ event, where a panel of colleagues from diverse backgrounds shared their unique perspectives on when it is OK to ask questions, and how to ask without causing harm or upset.

Colleagues have also been sharing their experiences having courageous conversations at work– truthful and honest discussions about a difficult topic, and create new perspectives, approached without being defensive, and without laying blame. We’ve also launched a toolkit to support colleagues to build their own confidence to have courageous conversations too.

National Inclusion Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate our seven employee communities, dedicated to promoting diversity and providing support for our own identities and experiences.

• Women in Cadent: Raising awareness, striving for equality, and supporting women's professional and personal development and educating about women’s health issues.
• Thrive: Raising awareness of and supporting visible and invisible disabilities, making our workplace accessible and supportive to all.
• Embrace: Promoting and championing awareness and inclusivity for all religions and faiths, discussing issues faced by people from ethnic backgrounds.
• Cadent Military Community: Bringing together and supporting veterans and reservists, family, and friends.
• Grief Awareness Community: Ensuring that nobody goes through grief alone.
• Men’s Engagement Network: Focusing on men's physical health, mental health, and topics contributing to the discussion around masculinity.

A Culture of Inclusion

Our community groups are just one aspect of our efforts to build an inclusive culture. We have implemented comprehensive diversity and inclusion training programs for everyone, ensuring that everyone understands the importance of these values and how to embed them in their daily work.

Also, our recruitment practices are designed to attract a diverse pool of talent and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for advancement within our company.