Social mobility, inclusion and belonging
Social mobility, inclusion and belonging have long been issues our member-owners feel we can campaign, advocate and act on for change.
In 2024, we launched a new social mobility, inclusion and belonging strategy aimed at creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace, enhancing social value, and ensuring that our Co-op remains responsive to the needs of our colleagues, our member-owners and their communities.
It focuses on:
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attracting and retaining divers talent. We continue to focus on increasing representation of ethnic minority leaders, and we now stand at 9%
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enhancing innovation through diverse perspectives. Providing products and services that meet the diverse needs of our customers and member-owners that are accessible, affordable and inclusive
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building reputation and social value. In 2024, we became the first retailer to publish a socio-economic pay gap report and achieved 34th place in the Social Mobility Employers’ Index – the highest-placed retailer
- fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Our Co-op inclusive leadership framework is tailored to individual leaders’ development needs, and all of our most senior leaders continue to have diversity and inclusion objectives. We’ve also launched a new standalone policy on Sexual Harassment, along with mandatory training for all colleagues
Co-op Levy Share
Launched in 2021, and bringing together our suppliers and other employers to support thousands of apprentices, Co-op Levy Share continues to go from strength to strength; tackling inequality and supporting opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Since 2021, over 2,500 apprentices have now benefited from the funding across all sectors, from stonemasons to data analysts.
£32.8m has been pledged in total since launching Levy Share in 2021.
