As part of the M Group Services Inclusion Commitment signed in 2020 our M Group Services Water Division has launched two new internal networks that will focus on the experiences of women and people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds across its four businesses, Morrison Water Services, IWJS, PMP Utilities and IDS.
The Women’s Network and REACH share common aims; to enable all women and individuals from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds to contribute to their full potential; to support the attraction of top talent; and to encourage diversity of thought to deliver innovative and effective business outcomes.
Women’s Network
The objective of the Women’s Network is to empower, nurture and raise the status of women in the workplace, providing a platform for women, and men, to share their experiences and champion equality of opportunity.
A key focus of the Women’s Network is help facilitate coaching, mentoring and training opportunities for women throughout M Group Services’ Water Division, enabling them to reach their full potential through personal and professional development.
Kerry Duke, Service Delivery Manager at Morrison Water Services and Chair of the Women’s Network, commented: “I am really excited to get this group off the ground. It’s important to me and others in the group that we empower, support and promote women. I would like to ensure that women across the Water Division define the course of their lives and achieve their full potential to become their best selves.”
John Edwards, Managing Director of the M Group Services Water Division and Executive Sponsor of the Women’s Network, added: “We have a strategic imperative to be a modern employer that recognises and values the innovation and new ideas that can come from diversity of thought. To achieve this, we need to attract, develop and retain a wide talent pool. The Water Division Women’s Network will provide the support we need to achieve this aim, by enabling women to flourish and achieve their full potential whilst also attracting top female talent to our businesses.”
REACH (Race, Equality and Celebrating Heritage)
REACH will provide a platform where individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds within the Water Division can share ideas and make recommendations, for example, on policies, recruitment and awareness training, while providing a support network for all colleagues.
John Edwards commented: “REACH aims to drive change by increasing the percentage of our people who are from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background, including a specific focus on creating greater diversity in our senior management and leadership roles.
“Whilst improving representation, a key focus of REACH is to contribute to creating a positive culture and environment for people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds across our four businesses. REACH will endeavour to do this through raising awareness and celebrating heritage to underpin an inclusive culture, where there is equal opportunity for progression for individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.”
