Over 2000 Diageo employees have been taking part in series of events across Scotland this week to champion inclusion and diversity as part of INC Week.
Created in 2017 to accelerate an inclusive culture, the 2020 INC Week programme includes engaging workshops, compelling panel discussions and TED-style talks which are taking place at various company locations, including Diageo’s Scottish HQ at Edinburgh Park, the Global Supply Centres at Shieldhall and Leven, and the Blackgrange Bonds in Alloa.
Focusing on a broad range of themes, from gender, sexuality and ethnicity, to disabilities and wellness in the workplace, highlights include inspiring keynote speaker Gail Porter’s (pictured) session on Dealing with Mental Health. Drawing from her own experience, Gail talked about her own struggles with depression, alopecia, drug addiction and homelessness.
Employees have also been taking part in a progressive training workshop on Neatebox’s Welcome app – pioneering software aimed at enhancing the quality of customer service available for visitors with specific accessibility requirements. The app is being trialled in Diageo’s new Scottish HQ throughout 2020.
INC Week also included sessions on Dementia, LGBT+ and cultural diversity, as well as fundraising events for local charities, to celebrate the company’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Guest speaker Gail Porter said, “It was fantastic to play a part in INC Week at Diageo’s Scotland HQ. I hope that sharing my experiences of mental health, homelessness, alopecia and bereavement with employees in Scotland and across the world will encourage them to talk about these issues, and reassure them that things can get better over time and with the right support.”
Ewan Andrew, President of Global Supply and Procurement at Diageo, said, “At Diageo, we’re hugely proud of our record on inclusion and diversity. We know that, in order for our business to thrive and meet the needs of our international consumers, we depend on the diverse talent of our employees who represent a wide range of backgrounds, skills and capabilities in each of the 180 countries in which we operate.
