Champions and Networks

Gender

We have a Gender Network which is headed by our Gender Champion Lynda Shillaw, Managing Director of Co-operative Estates and a member of the Executive. Lynda says:

"To be a successful retailer or service provider employees must reflect the diversity of the customer base.  Being able to understand customers, and relate to them feeds through to business strategy and fundamentally to the bottom line.  I believe it is important to have diversity champions in the business to act as role models, to inspire and attract others to our business.  It’s important to make sure that there is fairness and a level playing field to make sure we get the best person for any job.   It is up to women at senior levels of the organization to support those coming through and stand up to show what’s possible if you work hard. Fundamentally I just want to be recognised as being the best person for the job, nothing else should matter."

Sexual Orientation

We have a LGBT Network which is headed by our Sexual Orientation Champion George Meudell, Project Manager with The Co-operative Funeralcare. George says:

"I think there are two main reasons why diversity is important.

Firstly, our customers are a diverse bunch! We have to understand their needs and requirements and make sure our products and services are relevant and attractive to all the communities in which we trade. Having a diverse workforce should help to ensure all viewpoints are represented and taken on board when making decisions and when thinking about how to move the business forward.

Secondly, if we don’t accept and tolerate all different types of people, we will be missing out on recruiting talented people and allowing our existing workforce to reach their potential – in turn, we will be failing in our potential as a business. Tall/small, black/white, gay/straight…we are all equally capable and to discriminate against, or to favour, any one group can only be a bad thing."

Ethnicity

We have an Ethnicity Network which is headed by our Ethnicity Champion Faizal Musa, HR Business Partner with Co-operative Retail Logistics.

Faizal says, "doesn’t it make sense that if you have people working together who have different backgrounds, abilities and experiences they’re more likely to be creative, and build a more interesting and productive environment.  If everyone’s the same you’ll get the same ideas and approaches which as far as I’m concerned isn’t a great way to do business.  Further to this, unfortunately, the fact remains that there is still prejudice present in the employment arena.  For example statistics show that there is a 15% employment gap between White British Males and Ethnic Minority Males, the figures for women are even higher.  This needs to be tackled in all diversity strands, and opportunities given to those who deserve it, not just those whose face fits."

Disability

We have a Disability Network which is head by our Disability Champion Geoff Clarke, Head of Commercial Law within our Legal Department. In explaining why he believes that diversity is important Geoff says;

"I strongly believe that when people are not blind there is a tendency for people to think that a blind person is not capable of doing things as well as them.  This isn’t true, it’s just that when I’m asked to do a task I’ll do it just as well but might have to take a different route to achieving the same aim.  Neither way is wrong, we just need to be aware that 99% of the time there is more than one way reaching the desired outcome.

Sometimes people go over the top on political correctness and I certainly don’t agree with this and think that it can lead to having exactly the opposite to the desired effect.  As long as we respect people’s views and difference we should all be able to work together."