Race and Culture Network at Sopra Steria

As a global company with over 40,000 employees working in nearly 30 different countries, we want to celebrate our rich racial and cultural diversity and support everyone to reach their potential.

We know that being inclusive and diverse is an important part of being a great place to work. Our employee-led Race and Culture Network is made up of our Multi-Faith Community and Black Employee Community. Together, they operate to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone across the organisation to connect, share and learn about the cultures, perspectives and concerns of colleagues from different backgrounds.

Here are some of the things we do at Sopra Steria to support our colleagues from under-represented ethnicities:

• At the start of 2020, we became signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and committed to taking action to improve representation of varied ethnicities across our organisation.
• In 2021, we launched our first mentoring programme for colleagues from under-represented ethnicities. As a result, we’ve committed to providing mentoring support, either through a one-to-one mentoring relationship or through a mentoring circle. We also participate in the Mission Include Cross-Company Mentoring programme with colleagues taking part as either mentors or mentees.
• We have an Exec sponsor for Race and Culture who works closely with our Communities to make sure their voices are heard and views represented.
• We offer regular training for leaders and People Managers on inclusive leadership to highlight and alert them to issues, including understanding bias and privilege, inadvertent racism, microaggressions and conscious inclusion.
• All leaders, managers and colleagues within Sopra Steria must commit to our Zero Tolerance Pledge, to work together to address bullying and offensive and insensitive behaviour of any kind. This pledge includes mandatory training for all employees on equality, diversity and bullying and harassment.

"I am passionate about fostering an inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated and every voice is heard. Our individual experiences and backgrounds shape the way our business operates, and I want to contribute to creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected."

Annecia Baronette, Deputy Chair - Race and Culture Network