Central Co-op’s Sarah Dickins wins Most Inclusive Chief People Officer in Retail at InclusionIn Awards
Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 07/11/2024
Central Co-op’s Sarah Dickins has been crowned the "Most Inclusive Chief People Officer in Retail" accolade at the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Awards hosted by InclusionIn.
The awards ceremony, powered by WiHTL & Diversity in Retail, took place on the 5th of November at the spectacular Indigo at the O2. This landmark event brought together the leaders, changemakers and allies driving EDI in the Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail (HTL) sectors.
Since joining Central Co-op in late 2021, Sarah Dickins has led transformative efforts to embed EDI into the Society’s core values and practices. Her leadership has driven a comprehensive culture shift, built involving over 1,000 colleagues and known as “we are the Difference Makers," which empowers colleagues to co-create an environment that emphasises respect, inclusion and a true sense of belonging. This initiative has significantly increased colleague engagement, reduced turnover, and increased engagement with Members, with colleague turnover falling from 29.6% in 2022 to 26.4% in 2023, engagement scores rising by 6%.pts and Membership participation increasing by 15% pts.
Sarah’s impact extends across the Society and beyond. Under her leadership, Central Co-op launched two key EDI initiatives in 2024: inclusion networks and an inclusive leadership program. These networks provide vital platforms for underrepresented voices, with each executive team member acting as a sponsor. The inclusive leadership program has also received praise across the Society for promoting a deep understanding of EDI principles, featuring renowned speaker René Carayol at Central Co-op’s annual conference.
Sarah Dickins, who has recently been appointed as Chief Operating Officer - Food, Member and Customer at Central Co-op, reflected on the award, saying: "I am incredibly honoured to receive this award and share it with all our amazing Difference Makers at Central Co-op who have been part of our journey to build an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. Inclusion is about everyone having a voice and being able to thrive with us, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made together. There is always more to do, and I’m excited for the Society to continue to drive real, meaningful change alongside our inspiring teams.”
Central Co-op was also named a finalist in other categories, including Most Inclusive CEO in Retail for Debbie Robinson, Most Outstanding EDI Professional of the Year in Retail for Naomi Smith, and Most Progress in EDI Maturity Curve 2023-24, further underscoring the Society’s commitment to inclusive practices.
The recognition of Sarah Dickins at InclusionIn’s EDI Awards represents a significant milestone in Central Co-op's mission to lead with equity, diversity and inclusion at its core, championing an environment where every colleague feels they belong.
The EDI Awards celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations making strides in EDI initiatives, recognising outstanding dedication to creating more inclusive workplaces. As Tea Colaianni, Founder and Chair of InclusionIn, highlighted: "Receiving over 200 entries in our inaugural year is a powerful testament to the dedication and depth of commitment to advancing inclusion across the industry. Each winner represents a gold standard of excellence in their category, embodying an unwavering passion and desire to drive real change."
For further details, head to the centralcoop.co.uk/ or search for Central Co-op on socials. Details on becoming a Member can be found at Members.coop.
ENDS
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Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at Central Co-op
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
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