Diversity and Inclusion at SThree
Our diversity and inclusion strategy is at the heart of everything we do. We are deeply committed to recognising and developing our talent and supporting our clients, candidates and community to do the same. We promote a positive and inclusive work environment where diverse opinions and perspectives are valued and a true meritocracy exists.
Identity Programme
We set up Identity in 2011, a programme designed to support the development and progression of women within the organisation. SThree has twice been recognised in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women and was awarded the APSCo Award for Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion. Natasha Clarke, our Chief People Officer, is proud to be the Chair of Women In Recruitment since 2013.
Identity initially focused on empowering women within the company and creating a supportive environment in which they can succeed. The programme has provided tools and information, developed a support network, highlighted successful role models and held forums to share ideas. We have also been engaging with our clients and candidates on gender diversity and supporting women in the community, for example, working with female students to raise career aspirations.
We now have a platform to improve diversity and inclusion for all employees. It’s not just about creating a level playing field and treating everyone equally; it’s about acknowledging difference and treating everyone fairly. Being treated fairly is fundamental in ensuring that people feel valued.
Having a diverse workforce brings clear business benefits. By recruiting the brightest talent from across the community we are best placed to build relationships with clients and candidates and ensure we maintain an engaged and productive workforce.
Diversity delivers fresh thinking, creativity and innovation to fuel the dynamism that SThree is known for.
"Diversity isn’t about coming into a room and seeing lots of people that look different – it’s about diversity of thinking, opinions and contributions, which people from different backgrounds bring into the workplace."
Mentoring Scheme
At SThree we believe mentoring is a great way to foster diverse talent and share knowledge throughout the business.
Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person, the mentor, assists another, the mentee, in developing skills and knowledge that will enhance the less-experienced person’s professional and personal growth.
Having a mentor can give you access to great insight and experience and means you have someone to turn to for trusted advice when you need it most. A mentor can help in your career development as you identify and reach your short and long term goals. They can also help you build your internal networks and provide you with a different perspective.
We have found that those who take part in our mentoring scheme develop a broader view of the business and gain valuable insight into our corporate culture and values. The encouragement and support mentees receive helps them achieve their goals quicker and enables them to develop greater self-awareness in the process.
As an organisation, the mentoring scheme provides enormous benefits by helping our people fulfil their potential and by strengthening relationships across offices, brands and even continents.
The mentoring scheme is of particular value to our diversity initiatives as it ensures that anyone who joins us has the opportunity to benefit from this unique support and guidance programme. A mentee can also then go on to be a future mentor, a role model of the company values and someone who encourages and nurtures diverse talent.
At SThree, promoting inclusion and diversity is at the heart of everything we do. To find out more about the programmes and initiatives we put in place to support our people and create an inclusive work environment, view our inclusion and diversity brochure below.
Maternity Buddy Scheme
Our maternity buddy scheme has played an integral role in 84% of employees returning to work after maternity leave. For employees expecting a baby our buddy scheme provides support for the duration of the pregnancy, maternity leave and return to work. Many people find it helpful to discuss the experiences and issues they face with someone who has been in a similar situation and who may be able to offer reassurance, suggestions or simply lend an understanding ear.
A buddy offers informal, practical advice covering anything from morning sickness to how to speak to your line manager or team members about issues which arise from the pregnancy.
We are not prescriptive about the kind of advice that a buddy can share, we simply encourage confidential, open communication in order to help share knowledge and experience of this important time of your life.
We have found that the maternity buddy is a wealth of knowledge on issues such as childcare, accessing networks of working parents within the organisation and learning how to manage the lines of communication in the run up to maternity leave and the return to work. They have helped with tips on managing the competing demands of home and professional life and getting updated on what may have changed in the office during maternity leave.