Central Co-op accredited Silver in EDI Maturity Curve
Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 07/10/2024
Central Co-op has been awarded Silver accreditation and benchmarked “strategic” on the EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Maturity Curve after progressing its score by +10.2 in just 12 months in its commitment to driving change across its retail stores, funeral homes and Support Centre.
The EDI Maturity Curve, created by DE&I experts, Inclusion In, in collaboration with the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes Business School, is a pioneering tool that provides an opportunity for organisations to gauge and enhance their EDI efforts. The benchmark assesses performance in key EDI categories including “Employee Journey”, “Leadership” and “Stakeholders” producing an industry ranking and overall maturity score.
Central Co-op’s Silver accreditation was awarded for prioritising EDI - embedding inclusion throughout its culture and providing leaders with the skills to drive inclusion and have accountability for creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
The new EDI score of 66 follows 12 months of significant improvements across the full colleague lifecycle. The development of policies on fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, menopause support, and trans and non-binary identities have made a tangible impact on colleagues’ lives. When webinars and written communications proved inaccessible for some, Central Co-op launched a podcast series, ensuring more colleagues could engage with EDI topics in a format that worked for them.
This year, the Society launched its five inclusion networks: “empowHER” (women), “pride” (LGBTQIA+), “we are one” (ethnicity), “next gen” (under 25s) and “ability” (disability). The inclusion networks are made up of colleagues from across Central Co-op’s retail stores, funeral homes and Support Centre, leading the way in creating a more inclusive environment for all.
As a result, Central Co-op has increased its colleague engagement score by 0.12 in 6 months, while ethnicity disclosure rates increased by 10% and disability by 14%. The Society has also been shortlisted for “Most Progress in EDI Maturity Curve 2023-24” at the Inclusion In Awards.
Andy Peake, Chief Operating Officer – People, Funeral and Property at Central Co-op, comments: “We’re so proud of our inclusion journey so far. Our Inclusion Delivery Group introduced so many innovations to help drive EDI change, and they have now passed the baton to our five colleague inclusion networks. There is always work to be done in the inclusion and diversity space, and we look forward to seeing what change we can bring to the lives of our colleagues on our way up the Maturity Curve.”
For further details on Central Co-op’s EDI initiatives, head to the centralcoop.co.uk/ or visit socials. Details on becoming a Member can be found at membership.centralengland.coop/.
ENDS
For press information
Press Office
Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at Central Co-op
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
07385 048004