Six police forces feature in list of UK's most inclusive employers
Six police forces have been named among the top 50 inclusive employers in the UK in recognition of their continued dedication to workplace diversity.
The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List is a definitive list of UK based organisations that promote inclusion across all protected characteristics, throughout each level of employment.
Now in its fifth year, the list has become the leading cross-industry index harnessing best practice and innovation to drive inclusion for all.
The disruption of Covid-19 followed by the impact of the Black Lives Matter Movement has prompted employers to adapt and highlighted those that are leading with inclusion at the forefront.
“This year, more than any other, Inclusive Companies have seen a shift in the inclusion approach of organisations participating in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List” said founder and chief executive officer Paul Sesay. “Companies featured on this year’s list have felt the importance of ensuring individual voices are heard and standing up as responsible employers against discrimination and inequality.
“Those who ranked are on a continuous journey but have made it their mission to advocate for inclusive workplaces where everyone feels empowered to be the very best they can be”.
West Midlands Police placed second in the list – an achievement made all the more remarkable for the fact that the force did not feature at all in last year’s list.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson took to social media to express his delight and encourage all those who value inclusivity to join his force. In a post on Twitter he wrote: “I am thrilled that @WMPolice are the 2nd most inclusive employer in the UK and the most inclusive police force. Well done to @WestMidsFire and @WestMids_CA who feature strongly. Come join us @JobsWMP”.
Lancashire Constabulary was placed fourth, Cheshire Constabulary 12th, Northumbria Police 16th, West Yorkshire Police 20th and Durham Constabulary 33rd.
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenen said “I am incredibly proud of our achievement, for the second year running, to be included in the ‘Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers list for 2020.
“At Northumbria Police, we value, celebrate and embrace equality, diversity and inclusion. For us, it goes far beyond a legislative requirement and is entirely about who we are and what we do – a supportive inclusive culture is everything to us. Full stop.
“The majority of organisations are mostly about people. Certainly for Northumbria Police, people are our greatest asset and by investing in equality, diversity and inclusion we are investing in them; thereby allowing us to be in the best position possible to strive towards our vision of delivering outstanding policing services.
“As the chief constable I have a real passion to ensure diversity, equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, be this through our strong outward-facing partnership work or through the commitment we give to and receive from our officers, staff and volunteers; doing so in such a way as to collectively go about delivering a fully inclusive service to the fantastic region we are so privileged to be such an integral part of.”
He added: “The North East is already famous for its friendly, welcoming culture and we are proud of the part we are playing to both maintain and enhance this position. We recognise, as a police service, we play a major role in promoting equality and tackling discrimination – taking our responsibility for doing so extremely seriously. We know a fair, transparent and inclusive society benefits everyone, so for us it’s about ensuring every person across Northumbria feels safe, valued and included; allowing them to achieve their full potential.
“We want to be a police service that breaks down barriers and one that does so for and on behalf of others. That is why we will continue to build equality of opportunity into everything we do, both as a service provider and an employer, actively demonstrating respect and fair treatment towards everyone, from vulnerable victims to confident colleagues.
“We recognise the need to value difference and we have much to be proud of in the progress we have made in recent years. Of course, there are existing challenges we must continue to fight, as well as new ones being presented by our ever-changing society and the ever-evolving world of policing and public-service.”
Professor Amanda Kirby, Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers Judge and chief executive officer of Do-IT Solutions, said “This was an incredible opportunity to gain an insight into a number of companies across the UK who are taking the concepts of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are demonstrating inclusive practice in a variety of ways. Some of the leaders in the UK are doing some amazing ‘outward facing work’ reaching communities and making a tangible difference to the lives of their customers and supply chain. It is exciting to see a few excellent companies who are truly going one step further and delivering intersectional and integrated inclusive people-centred approaches and they should be rightly proud of the work they are doing.”
