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Race & Ethnicity at Wates Group

The gRace and Allies Network at Wates is linked to race and ethnicity. This provides a space to celebrate the different cultures we come from, helping us understand and acknowledge our history and learn from it.

 

gRace Network at Wates

 

Objectives:

  • Enabling colleagues to make connections- with each other and with senior leaders in the organisation (including the family)
  • Help Wates celebrate differences by celebrating the different cultures we come from. Helping understand and acknowledge our history and learning from it
  • Support in the education of the organisation on race and ethnicity linked topics and in the general education on D&I and lead to change
  • Enable a safe place, especially for colleagues of colour, a community that offers belongingness and support
  • Support the D&I ambition of Wates to be an employer of choice for diverse talent

 

Paul Rowan

When Paul Rowan first heard about reverse mentoring, he was curious: having worked in HR for a long time, he was reasonably familiar with the principles of mentoring and knew what to expect, but had never encountered it through the lens of anti-racism.

Paul was matched with Trevor Calliste, a Senior Design Manager from the Residential business. As part of his mentorship conversations with Trevor, it became increasingly clear to Paul that a significant part of the problem is the inertia of a white majority group who don’t consider themselves racist, but need to do better to be anti-racist.

 Through several mentoring sessions, Paul and Trevor had many discussions touching on how racism manifests itself in day-to-day life for colleagues of colour. 

 

The Power of Privilege

While Paul and Trevor found many similarities in their everyday lives, what struck Paul was the number of occasions Trevor had to fight for that came to Paul without much consideration. 

For example, not having to get a receipt every time he goes shopping for fear of being challenged for shoplifting, or wondering if the clothes he wears may make him more vulnerable to being stopped by police when driving home. This broadened Paul’s understanding of privilege:

 I would say I came from a “normal” background with little material wealth, and privilege is often a notion of material wealth. My mentoring experience and a lot of the learning from mentor groups has helped me to understand that my experience through childhood, education and employment has been smooth. I would never would have thought myself as a privileged person, nor that I had a privileged upbringing, but it’s definitely made me think of it and reframe my thoughts.​​​​​​​

 

Race Ratio Campaign

Wates has become one of the first 100 companies to join the Change the Race Ratio initiative, and the first construction business to do so.

 

Race Ratio

 

Sir James Wates, said:

"As the first construction business to become a signatory of the Change the Race Ratio, we want to lead the change to make sure our sector becomes more representative of wider society, a sector in which everyone person is welcomed, included and connected.

 

Race and Ethnicity at Wates Group

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