What inspired your organisation to participate in the Investing in Ethnicity Maturity Matrix?
VodafoneThree and Vodafone Group UK were inspired to participate in the Investing in Ethnicity Maturity Matrix as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a truly inclusive workplace. While we’ve made significant progress, we recognised the importance of benchmarking our progress and identifying areas for further development in ethnicity inclusion. Engaging with the Maturity Matrix provided us with a structured, evidence-based framework to assess our initiatives, learn from best practice and ensure that our actions are making a meaningful difference for colleagues from all backgrounds.
Why do you think promoting ethnicity inclusion is important for your organisation?
Ethnicity inclusion remains a central focus for VodafoneThree and Vodafone Group UK, reflecting our dedication to cultivating an inclusive environment in alignment with our organisational values. When individuals from all ethnic backgrounds feel valued, respected and empowered, they bring their best selves to work, fostering innovation and enhancing collaboration across the business. By championing ethnicity inclusion, we not only reflect the communities and customers we serve but also create a culture where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive, strengthening our organisation as a whole.
How do we champion ethnic inclusion?
Leaders and managers actively champion ethnic inclusion through a series of impactful initiatives. One example is Leader Labs, an in-person learning programme completed by 10,000 leaders across our markets. This conversational training is designed to challenge existing behaviours in a psychologically safe environment, where employees can share their experiences and commitments to fostering inclusion. The programme specifically addresses essential topics such as power and privilege, allyship and inclusive leadership.
In partnership with McKinsey, we offer The McKinsey Connected Leaders Academy to champion racial equity and empower the next generation of leaders. The programme is designed to build a more inclusive leadership pipeline and fully develop our diverse workforce’s talents. It is offered at no cost and delivers targeted growth opportunities for high-potential Black, Asian and Hispanic/Latino professionals. The academy features three levels of training, from early leadership to senior executive, helping participants build essential skills, expand their professional networks, and receive valuable mentorship and sponsorship.
In the UK alone this year, 220 ethnic minority leaders have enrolled onto the programme. In addition to training, progress is sustained through regular quarterly governance meetings, which bring together the HR Director, the executive sponsors for our ethnic inclusion networks, the D&I Lead and ethnicity network chairs. These sessions provide a consistent space to assess progress and explore new ways to drive ethnic inclusion throughout the organisation.
