Date published: 10 March 2025
At Stonewater, diversity in the workplace isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. Being truly inclusive helps employees feel more connected to their work and is crucial to the overall success of the organisation.
Colleagues can share with each other their wide range of experiences and viewpoints through initiatives like the 2GeTher Network, which I became Chair of shortly after joining Stonewater in 2021.
A safe space
Launched in 2019, the 2GeTher Network was designed to provide a safe space for colleagues to share experiences, talk about real societal issues, and celebrate their identities. I’m proud of how the impact of the network has grown thanks to the efforts of our dedicated committee, and our allies, to promote inclusion across the organisation.
The 2GeTher Network creates opportunities for people to speak out and, most importantly, to feel heard. As well as inviting colleagues to take part and share their experiences, ideas and questions in open events, we raise awareness and promote inclusion through a variety of initiatives, including workshops, lunch and learn sessions, blogs, training and conversations on our internal chat channels.
It’s important to us that, at times of difficulty, colleagues know that we’re there for them. We keep abreast of current affairs and situations that may affect colleagues. For example, during the awful riots that plagued the country in the summer, we worked with our friends in other network groups to host an ally-led ‘Your Voice’ event, to foster understanding and solidarity, and give colleagues the opportunity to have an honest, uncensored conversation about how the violence made them feel and how we could support each other and our customers at a difficult time.
Lived experiences
No EDI programme can be successful without lived experiences and expertise at its heart. As well as providing a platform for our colleagues to speak, at least three times in the year, we invite external speakers to share their insights.
These have included high-profile figures such as Anton Ferdinand, Dame Kelly Holmes, and John Barnes, alongside experts like professor and author Shawn Naphtali-Sobers, psychologist and motivational speaker John Amaechi and Housing Expert and Founder of Black on Board Lara Oyedele. This external insight brings a wealth of knowledge, helping colleagues to feel heard and inspiring them to become advocates for change.
Over the last two years, we’ve also worked with leading EDI experts to host lunch and learns. These accessible, bite-sized sessions cover critical topics such as how to identify and address microaggressions and how to be an active ally. By equipping our teams with practical tools, we embed inclusive practices into our everyday culture here at Stonewater which benefits our colleagues and customers alike.
Organisation-wide focus
The 2GeTher Network’s committee is made up 12 colleagues from across Stonewater, and we actively aim to have people from all areas of the business represented.
It’s really important to us that our colleagues who are out and about supporting customers can also get involved, so we make sure that all our events are recorded, so colleagues can catch up at a time that suits them.
We’ve also taken intentional steps to ensure our efforts are intersectional. As Chairs of our four inclusion networks, we meet regularly and collaborate to host events that highlight the overlapping identities and experiences of our colleagues. Some impactful sessions we’ve held include a conversation on neurodiversity in women of colour and the history of UK Black Pride.
Celebrating success
Investing in Ethnicity’s Maturity Matrix provides an external benchmarking framework to guide us and hold us accountable to high standards in diversity. We are proud to retain a level four – the highest accreditation in our last assessment. It’s been great to see Stonewater’s achievements in the diversity and inclusion space recognised externally.
For the past three years, we’ve been named a Top 10 employer by Investing in Ethnicity’s annual awards for our diversity initiatives. In 2023, 2GeTher was also recognised as a Top Ten Networking Group.
Our Head Of EDI, Cordelia Johnney’s, shortlisting in the same awards, as an Inspirational Leader, as well as her recent appointment to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Governance and Inclusive Leadership, further demonstrates how our commitment to EDI nurtures individuals who inspire change both within and outside the organisation.
As well as celebrating our work in this area, external recognition also positions Stonewater as a leader in equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), attracting top talent who want to work for an organisation that values a diverse workforce and what each individual has to offer.
Our senior leadership team role-model dedication to our committees by each acting as an executive sponsor. The importance of EDI is deeply understood across the business, top down and bottom up. Team members are encouraged to dedicate time to these efforts, with their contributions recognised in performance development reviews. This approach ensures that EDI is not seen as an optional task but as a core part of living Stonewater’s values.
Diversity matters
Diversity in the workplace is about creating an environment where everyone can thrive. For those who feel underrepresented, it’s about seeing themselves reflected in the organisation’s culture. For those who may not yet fully understand the importance of diversity, it helps with education and exposure to other viewpoints.
The business benefits are clear. A diverse workforce fosters creativity and innovation. It also enhances employee engagement and retention, as people are more likely to stay with an organisation that values and supports them.
By continuing to champion EDI, we’re ensuring the long-term success of our business, along with the many benefits for our customers and colleagues who make it thrive.
People like me
This story is part of our People Like Me campaign which celebrates the real-life stories of our colleagues who are helping to drive change and enrich our organisation.
“By recognising and amplifying voices that are often underrepresented, this campaign provides a platform for authentic stories, showing how diversity strengthens our organisation and benefits the communities we serve. We hope to inspire others within and beyond our sector to prioritise EDI in meaningful ways and spark a broader conversation about the value of inclusion."
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