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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to continuously enhancing the diversity of our workforce to create a fair and improved environment for our people, and to benefit our members through a variety of skills, experiences, and innovative ideas.
We’re proud to have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme, which supports employers to alter thinking and attitudes toward disability, improve the recruitment, and retention of disabled workers.
Women in Finance
The Women in Finance Charter is a government initiative designed to improve gender diversity in senior positions within the financial services sector, and we have been proud signatories since 2018. The Society has maintained a gender balance across all levels of leadership within the organisation for several years, including at Board level (Executive and Non–Executive Directors) and Executive Committee level. This has been achieved while adopting a strategy of appointing the right individuals for roles, regardless of gender.
We are proud of the strong female representation and voice. In 2022, our Chief Risk Officer Rebecca Griffin was promoted to an Executive Director role and Barbara Taeed was named as chair our Remuneration Committee. In addition, Nemone Wynn-Evans was named first female Chair of the Board at our AGM in March 2024.
When we signed up to the Charter in September 2018, we had 50% female representation. As of 30 September 2022, ten women held positions at Board and Executive Committee level out of a total of 17 (59%). We’re delighted to have met our Charter target, and we expect to maintain this position.
Wellbeing and mental health
We understand that our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do, which is why wellbeing and staff happiness are at the top of our agenda.
We have implemented a wide range of initiatives to support our colleagues’ wellbeing. We have introduced a workplace ’Wellbeing pyramid of support’ which allows our colleagues to access a range of services available to them.
The Society has trained six in-house Mental Health First Aiders who are able to support colleagues directly, and signpost them to available services that can offer further support.
We have facilitated various ‘tea and talk’ sessions, training workshops for our people leaders, and mindfulness workshops. In addition, colleagues can access a range of training courses, reliable resources, and contact information for a wide range of wellbeing subjects via our in-house wellbeing portal.
The Society offers colleagues a private medical health scheme which provides services for physical and mental health. We want our colleagues to be happy and healthy – happy, and healthy staff means more productivity and happy members.
We continue to work towards supporting our colleagues’ health, and we are currently on track of obtaining the Thrive at Work award in recognition of the support the Society offers for staff wellbeing.
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