Professional recruitment firm PageGroup has achieved the platinum standard award from consultancy the Clear Company for its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
The Clear Company’s Clear Assured platform and accreditation was launched in 2003, in order to help organisations address diversity and inclusion challenges and priorities. It introduced the platinum award to recognise employers that have not just made progress, but have fully integrated these practices into all aspects of their operations, while continuing with further improvements.
The platform provides participating businesses with an initial assessment of their DEI maturity, and outlines a roadmap for further development. The system now has five levels of accreditation, and Clear Assured includes access to a dedicated account manager to help guide employers through each stage.
Alexandria Maria, head of Clear Assured at the Clear Company, said: “As DEI continues to shape every aspect of business process and delivery, companies today must be able to evidence their progress to investors, suppliers, customers and employees – including prospective candidates.”
In order to reach the platinum award, PageGroup integrated diversity and inclusion inclusion content into all training programmes, developed coaching sessions, and implemented lunch and learns, focus groups, support networks and diversity champions.
The business has more than 9,000 members of staff, spread across 139 offices in 37 countries. It has tailored DEI policies in place across each country. In the UK, its Women@Page, Pride@Page, Unity@Page, Families@Page, and Ability@Page networks, which feed into local inclusive policies and benefits.
PageGroup’s DEI practices include employee-led fundraising activities. In the UK, it supports various charities, such as Ambitious About Autism, Humanity & Inclusion, and Womankind Worldwide.
Through its give as you earn (GAYE) charity scheme, staff make their own donations, which PageGroup matches. According to the business, approximately £42,000 has been donated by employees, matched to bring it up to £84,000 by the employer. A recent initiative saw staff collect and donate work and interview appropriate clothes to provide to disadvantaged and unemployed women.
Sheri Hughes, UK & MEA DE&I director at PageGroup, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have our years of hard work recognised with this coveted accreditation. It’s with immense pride that we have been able to demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and continue to lead the way in our industry. We are really grateful for the ongoing support that the Clear Company have given us. This is just the start for us and we look forward to continuing our work together to create lasting change.”
UK employees at PageGroup can access a range of benefits, including private medical insurance (PMI), maternity and paternity leave above statutory minimums, life assurance, income protection, a cycle-to-work scheme, season ticket loans and a discount scheme. For wellbeing specifically, PageGroup provides an employee assistance programme (EAP), wellbeing toolbox, mental health champions and training, and access to fitness apps with training and coaches.
