Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality and inclusion is central to everything we do at The Barnet Group. We want to create a workplace where everyone can be themselves and knows they can reach their full potential.

We value our people and respect and celebrate their differences. We’re proud that our colleagues come from different backgrounds and have varied outlooks, and we know that bringing together these experiences and unique points of view makes us a stronger organisation and better able to serve our diverse customers.

We are always looking for ways to support our colleagues and are committed to being responsive to demands to create staff networks and support groups. Our Race Equality Steering Group supports staff from ethnic minority backgrounds and allies, and is championing our work to strengthen race equality within our organisation. This includes driving our Race Equality Action Plan, which is an important part of our wider equalities and improvement work as we strive to find ways to become a more efficient and effective business with equality of opportunity and outcome for our people and our customers.

We want to create a place that works for everyone, and we are looking for committed, passionate people to join us.

We are always looking for ways to support our colleagues and have committed to create staff networks and support groups.

• Ethnicity – Our Race Equality Steering Group supports staff from ethnic minority backgrounds and allies and is championing our work to strengthen race equality within our organisation. This includes driving our Race Equality Action Plan, which is an important part of our wider equalities and improvement work as we strive to find ways to become a more efficient and effective business with equality of opportunity and outcome for our people and our customers.
• Gender – We aim to support all genders at TBG and have created a Men’s circle and women’s group enabling staff to reach their full potential. We look to influence the culture and behaviours of the organisation to be more supportive to our peoples personal and professional growth, well-being, self-care.
• LGBTQ+ staff and community group – supports TBG on LGBTQ+ issues, The group educates staff and the wider community about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. This fosters a more inclusive and understanding environment for everyone. The group provides a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ staff, where they connect with others who share their experiences, find mentors, and access resources.
• Staff DisabilityForum – Supporting TBG to become disability confident and improve the work environment for those with visible and non-visible disabilities. The network raises awareness around barriers that society imposes for the disabled and is solution focused to combat them.
• People Network – Each directorate provides a representative who meet to problem solve barriers in the workplace for staff and marginalised groups.
• Young Professionals Group – A group for staff members aged 18-29. The group’s aim is to provide support, mentorship, career development and positive health and wellbeing. The group also raises awareness of issues that affect young people at work and look to support staff to ensure young professionals feel they can reach their potential and achieve their goals here.

We have committed to reviewing the ethnicity pay gap as part of our Race Equality Action Plan in 2021. We will publish the results and identify any action we can take to improve equality within our business.

Click here to view our publications where you can download our EDI Annaul Reports.

The Barnet Group has adopted The Halo Code, the UK’s first Black hair code. No Black employee should have to change their natural or protective hairstyle in order to thrive at work. We hope that the Halo Code will move us one step closer to a world free from discrimination, where all Black members of our community have their identities fully recognised and celebrated.

The Code: “Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee’s ability to succeed.