Inspiring a culture of inclusion at Drax

This International Women’s Day, Drax employees tell their perspectives about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

At Drax, we’re proud to support and foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We continuously aim to support all our colleagues and to design ways of working that are inclusive, flexible and enable equitable opportunities for all.??

In celebration of International Women’s Day and the theme of inspiring inclusion this year, we asked teams from around the business about what inclusion means to them, the actions they take to inspire inclusion and any barriers and challenges there are to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce. ??

Simon Clements, Talent Director at Drax, explained how inclusion to him “is feeling you have a voice that is listened to, without?judgement.?In the workplace, inclusion is creating an environment?where everyone feels psychologically safe to bring their authentic?self to work and the organisation creating systems that, through?listening and acting, continuously improve and make the most of the?diversity of thought within it.”?

Kelly-Marie?Lovesy?– Opus Director of Sales and Co-Chair of?Women@Drax, describes inclusion as “understanding people’s differences, embracing them and also making it easy for them to access everything. Speaking up for others and realising your needs and feelings are not the only ones in the room is so important. This creates an ideas-led, open culture where growth and success thrive, and people feel safe and that they can be themselves and it will be embraced.”?

When speaking about actions that can be taken to inspire inclusion, Katie Marsh, a Finance Graduate at Drax, explains how “everyone is responsible for inspiring inclusion and by supporting and guiding women into male dominated industries, we can provide safe spaces for women to feel confidant and empowered to achieve whatever they desire. Providing and using examples of powerful women can create role models to aspire to. These inspirations prove that by supporting women in an equitable environment inclusion can be achieved.”?

Fe Bush, a BECCS Sales Delivery Manager, lists a number of key actions that can help to inspire inclusion, including “helping breakdown the historic social constructs of inequality. Championing inclusive action as an everyday basic behaviour, not a spotlight showcase. Support each other to breakdown barriers and build a brighter future where every voice has equal standing.”?

However, when thinking about creating a more inclusive and diverse culture at work, it’s important to recognise the barriers and challenges different people may face to overcome them and move forward together.?

When asking Naomi Christopher, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager at our Houston?office, she said “closed mindedness: being set in the way of the past without attempting any progression. I also think unconscious bias and microaggressions play a big part in the lack of progress within certain sectors, it is important to provide education because some people have truly never experienced diversity.” ?

The importance of education resonates with Richard White,?the Plant Manager at our Princeton Pellet Plant, who states “for every person that truly recognizes the need for inclusivity, there are still too many that don’t. We need to keep educating them, and promoting the idea that inclusivity makes us stronger as a company and better as a person.”?

As the world recognises and celebrates International Women’s Day, we continue to empower and support women, break down bias, raise awareness of discrimination and celebrate diversity. Together, we can inspire inclusion and create a more positive and equitable future for all. ?

Watch this video to hear more about how we inspire inclusion at Drax. ?? ??

?? Learn more about how we support diversity, equity and inclusion at Drax: https://www.drax.com/sustainability/people-and-culture/ ?

#IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #GenderEquality?