October 2024
We are so proud to share the wonderful news that Grainger has achieved the National Equality Standard (NES) accreditation. Our Chief People Officer Michelle Boothroyd tells us more.
What exactly is NES?
The National Equality Standard (NES) is the UK’s highest benchmark for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I).
What does getting a NES accreditation mean to Grainger?
A lot.. we are absolutely thrilled! As a business we have a diverse workforce, working across many disciplines: development, finance, marketing and communications, legal and governance, operations, procurement, lettings, HR, facilities management and so much more. Our colleagues, like our customers, come from a variety of backgrounds, faiths and ethnicity. We not only embrace those differences but celebrate them - it’s what makes Grainger such a special place to work.
Why do you think NES is important
We are committed to creating an inclusive culture for all our colleagues and we want to build a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities in which we live, work and operate. We want to provide a workplace where everyone feels that they belong, that their individual characteristics are valued and celebrated, and they feel that they can bring their ‘whole-self’ to work every day.
What do you do to support ED&I at Grainger?
Throughout the year, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) network host a range of events to raise awareness, educate and profile issues that matter to our customers and colleagues. We also have ED&I as a thread that runs through everything we do to ensure our processes and policies work for all. Securing an accreditation such as the NES gives confidence that we are making good progress.
What drives you in Grainger?
One of our core values is People at the Heart and it’s my absolute favourite. We spend so much time in the workplace that it’s so important our colleagues love what they do, they’re passionate about making a difference for our customers and importantly they feel supported, encouraged and proud of the work they do. My role is to drive that people centric culture along with Grainger’s senior leadership team.
With People at the Heart of all we do, this accreditation helps us further build on our commitment to being a leading inclusive employer.