Better for our people

Why it matters to us

People are the heartbeat of our business. By investing in our people we can make a positive social impact – on them personally and as local residents of the area, and on the wider communities we serve.

Inspiring and developing our people means they will want to stay with us for longer, benefiting us with their skills and experience.

To do this, we recognise the need to offer greater learning opportunities at all levels. It means making these opportunities open and transparent so it is clear how anyone can progress and move on in the business.

Our plans

Create more apprenticeships

We will create more high-quality and diverse apprenticeship positions with us each year, aiming to capture 2.5% of our workforce on or starting an apprenticeship in 2022/23.

Increase training quality for apprentices

By 2025 and beyond, all our apprenticeships will achieve Gold level accreditation in the Investors In People ‘We invest in apprentices’ scheme.

Why it matters to us

A diverse workforce positively enriches business performance at all levels.

We serve a diverse region, and we want our workforce to reflect this: not just by gender or culture but by background, skills, beliefs and more. But sustainable progress in diversity and representation requires inclusion – the degree to which our employees are embraced, supported, and enabled to make meaningful contributions. That’s why we will take action to create a long-lasting inclusive culture, where our diverse workforce can flourish.

Our plans

Champion inclusivity

We will use our new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and roadmap to instil behaviours in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace, that better reflects the communities we serve.

Upskill our people

By the end of 2024, all of our people will have completed best practice inclusion training.

Why it matters to us

With great people comes great responsibility. If we don’t look after our people, we will never progress and succeed as a sustainable business.

For us, the link between a healthy workforce and sustainability is clear. Good workplace performance, greater productivity and improved loyalty are just some of the enduring benefits which follow from putting the safety and wellbeing of our employees first.

Our plans

Offer personal wellbeing support

We will ensure all our colleagues can easily access therapeutic support for challenges affecting their physical, emotional or mental wellbeing.

Provide regular safety training

We will enable every manager to maintain our high standards of health and safety through our Be Safe training programme, with a refresher every two years.

Renew our commitment to safety

We will reinforce and strengthen our Health and Safety strategy so that both colleagues and customers will feel safe and supported when they are with us.