Thales UK relaunches the REACH Employee Network

Thales celebrated National Inclusion Week with the relaunch of their REACH Network.

With the aim of fostering change Thales held a live-panel event which was hosted by Alice Hardy (Senior Talent Acquisition Partner), included panelists Alex Cresswell (Thales UK CEO), Ify Okolie (REACH Network Chair), Claire Angliss (Talent Learning and Culture Specialist), Angela Essel (Senior Account Director MOD HQ) and Tom Chen (Deputy Solutions Engineering Manager), with an impressive turnout both in-person and virtually of our colleagues and senior leadership from all across the UK.

 

 

The event showcased the collective dedication of the business to cultivating a collaborative environment where psychological safety is felt by all. The open and honest conversations held during the session paved the way for a brighter future, emphasising the importance of widening the talent pool and supporting the growth of racially and ethnically diverse employees.

One of the key highlights of the event was the focus on creating a truly collaborative and inclusive workplace. Through transparent and candid conversations, participants explored strategies and initiatives to ensure that everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. This commitment to psychological safety is essential for individuals to bring their best selves to work, unleashing their full potential and driving innovation. The event also shed light on the company's dedication to supporting the internal mobility and development of racially and ethnically diverse employees. The discussions provided insights into the current pipeline of initiatives aimed at widening the talent pool and ensuring equal opportunities for growth and advancement. By recognising and nurturing the unique talents and perspectives of our diverse workforce, fostering an environment that celebrates diversity as a strength, spurring creativity and excellence.

 

 

“I believe very passionately that what we do in this business is extremely important societally, and the key to continuing to do this great work, as has been identified in our UK Strategic Framework, is linked to the very local inclusivity that people find in the places that they work. Therefore, to the business as a whole, inclusive leadership is extremely important to achieving that, as inclusive leadership is simply good leadership. However, it’s very easy to talk about aspects of inclusivity in the third person and abstractly, but the way we engage with each other can be more or less inclusive for our colleagues, so in every day, in every way, everyone can make a small contribution in making our workspaces more inclusive. Each one of us has a responsibility."

Alex Cresswell, CEO

 

Testimonials from participants included the following:

“Thanks for sharing your story, so honestly.  That was really powerful.”

“It's so important for us to understand what others experience on a personal level for us to understand why the change is so crucial.  Thank you for sharing”

“Hugely inspiring and enlightening session”

“Very useful session, thank you to all of you”

“Thank you, I found it extremely informative and helpful.”

“Thank you and well done all!”

 

Looking Forward:

"The resounding success of this event serves as a launching pad for future initiatives, ensuring that our workplace continues to evolve into a space where all employees can thrive. By harnessing the power of diversity, we pave the way for a brighter, more innovative future."

Ify Okolie, REACH Network Chair

 

 

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