About the Diversity and Inclusion Award

The Diversity and Inclusion Award honours organisations that champion diversity, promote inclusion within their workforce, and contribute to broader community outreach efforts. The award specifically acknowledges companies that have implemented innovative policies and practices to foster an inclusive culture, support underrepresented groups, and create measurable impact in making the workplace and community more equitable.

At Waldeck, we are incredibly proud of the positive changes we’ve made in our diversity and inclusion efforts, and being shortlisted for this award further validates the work we’ve done to create a supportive and empowering environment for all of our employees.

Waldeck’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is not just about numbers – it’s about making real, lasting changes that impact our culture and the way we operate. Here are just a few of the initiatives we’ve put in place to promote diversity and ensure that all employees feel valued and supported:

Inclusive Recruitment Practices

To attract a more diverse talent pool, we’ve implemented inclusive recruitment strategies. We’ve established strong partnerships with organisations and educational institutions to reach individuals from diverse backgrounds. As a result, 38% of the Waldeck team now come from non-white British communities, a significant increase from 15% five years ago. Additionally, 20% of our team identifies as women, surpassing the national average of 13.7% for women in the engineering industry.

Supportive Work Environment

At Waldeck, we believe that creating a truly inclusive workplace goes beyond recruitment. We’ve made significant strides to ensure that everyone feels welcome and supported. Our internal Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (E,D & I) Committee plays a key role in ensuring we’re continuously improving, and the feedback from our employees demonstrates that we’re on the right track. Since implementing these changes, we’ve seen a 30% increase in retention figures, indicating that employees feel more engaged, satisfied, and committed to our shared success.

Mentoring and Career Development

Waldeck also places a strong emphasis on inspiring and mentoring individuals from underrepresented communities. We actively encourage people from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in engineering and construction. We take part in events, career fairs, and local community outreach activities to raise awareness of opportunities in the industry and to inspire the next generation of talent.

Celebrating and Supporting Diversity

We also work hard to celebrate the diversity within our workforce. Some of our key activities include:

  • Women in Industry: We’ve created a dedicated space on our website to showcase the achievements and insights from the women we work with, highlighting their successes and inspiring others.
  • Ambassadorship and Visibility: Employees from minority groups are supported to attend industry events, act as ambassadors, and share their stories to help drive positive change in the sector.
  • Mentoring Schemes: Our employees engage with local universities, supporting mentoring initiatives aimed at helping students from diverse backgrounds excel in STEM fields.

A World-Class Organisation

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, coupled with our continued focus on employee engagement, has helped us earn top recognition from independent surveys. In 2023, Waldeck was awarded a 3-star rating as a world-class organisation in the b-Heard employee engagement survey – the highest possible score. The results speak for themselves:

  • 88% – This job is good for my own personal growth
  • 76% – The training in this job is a great benefit to me personally
  • 86% – I feel proud to work for this organisation
  • 87% – I believe I can make a valuable contribution to the success of this organisation
  • 82% – I love working for this organisation

Becky Hicks, Group HR Business Partner shared of the shortlist:

“This recognition is a testament to our on-going commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and it highlights the strides we’ve made in creating a more equitable and welcoming environment for all.

“Being shortlisted for the Diversity and Inclusion Award is an exciting milestone for Waldeck, but it’s just one step in our ongoing journey. We are committed to continuing our work in building a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace where every individual can thrive.

“I look forward to celebrating with the Waldeck team, our fellow finalists and the wider business community at the Lincolnshire Showground on the 14th March.”