16 Mar 2022
NIE Networks was proud to receive the Company Award for ‘Advancing Diversity in the Workplace’ at the recent Women in Business NI Awards.
Sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast, the award recognises a business which has championed diversity within the workplace and can demonstrate the benefits of this.
The award was collected on behalf of NIE Networks by Senior HR Business Partner Paula Leathem, who said: “This award is very fitting recognition of NIE Networks’ commitment to nurturing a strong people-focused culture, where our people are celebrated both as individuals and as teams and are empowered to be the very best that they can be.
“At the very core of this people culture is our commitment to diversity and inclusion – the principles of which we are focused on embedding across every aspect of our business.”
A key focus for NIE Networks has been on the area of gender diversity, for which it has been accredited the Bronze Diversity Charter Mark by Diversity Mark NI.
NIE Networks employees benefit from an extensive programme of policies aimed at promoting and safeguarding a fair and inclusive workplace – including Dignity in the Workplace; Maternity, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave; Flexible Working and Agile Home Working.
The introduction of additional policies in areas such as menopause, fertility, breast feeding, and post-partum depression has further enhanced and safeguarded NIE Networks’ compassionate and nurturing ethos.
A range of complementary interventions are offered at all levels of NIE Networks to empower its female employees to succeed and progress in their careers, in parallel with working flexibly to support personal commitments and health and wellbeing.
A series of initiatives have been delivered through external partnerships with organisations such as Women in Business NI, Business in the Community NI, Skills NI and the Sisters In programme.
NIE Networks’ Lean In circles and Mentor Programme, delivered by a panel of 16 internal female mentors in senior leadership roles, have been a valued source of support and encouragement to females across the organisation. Its Flourish Women’s Development Programme, meanwhile, covers topics such as self-confidence and assertiveness, powerful resilience and effective communications.
With such a wide range of diversity initiatives in place, NIE Networks has been commended by Diversity Mark NI for its “continuing commitment to identifying and tackling sensitive and challenging issues,” that “reflects the maturity of its diversity and inclusion strategy.”
Diversity Mark NI also praised NIE Networks for “real improvements in the female representation at Senior Manager, Line Manager and Graduated/Apprentice levels” – with a notable 46% increase in female representation within NIE Networks’ Senior Leadership Team recorded in recent years.
“We are proud to have made remarkable strides in diversity and inclusion and the progress we continue to make every day, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 over the past two years,” Paula continued.
“But we also recognise that we are on a journey and see this as a long-term, continuous process of enrichment, development and improvement. NIE Networks remains firmly committed to listening, observing and learning from best practice in this important space – ensuring we are a truly a diverse and inclusive workplace for all.”