BT Ireland diversity & inclusion week shines a light on the benefits of a more inclusive workplace
Last month, BT Ireland held its second annual diversity and inclusion week, designed to celebrate and encourage greater diversity and a more inclusive culture in the workplace.
Each day the company ran a series of themed events aimed at tackling a wide variety of topics ranging from LGBT equality, greater employment for people with disabilities, gender diversity, ethnic diversity, health and well-being, as well as how to better support employees who are caring for family members.
The pinnacle of the week was the BT Better Together lunch, where over 300 guests from organisations across the country attended a special event celebrating gender diversity in the workplace. The headline speaker was BAFTA award winning broadcaster and author Clare Balding, who is a passionate advocate of greater gender balance in all professions. Commenting on her experience as a woman forging a career in a largely male dominated environment Clare highlighted the importance of collaboration and men and women working together to address gender imbalance. She said “I am a big believer in confidence and that by working together, both men and women, we can help each other become more confident and achieve more in our careers and in our personal lives.”
Fao; Picture & Business Desk 31052017 – no reproduction fee
Pictured at the BT Ireland’s ‘The Difference is You’ event which took place at the Aviva Stadium are from left, Jake Church 10, from Malahide, Janiele Cocamas, aged 11, from Finglas, Lilyanne Bridegman 9 from Kilbarrack and Pharell Evenor 8 from Clontarf.
Award Winning Journalist, broadcaster and author, Clare Balding joined a host of inspirational guests to discuss diversity in the workplace at a special lunch to celebrate BT Diversity Week.
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright© Fennell Photography 2017.
Also speaking at the event was BT Ireland’s managing director Shay Walsh, who explained why BT has undertaken the challenge to champion diversity and inclusion in such a significant way. He said, “Diverse and inclusive organisations get better business results. Diversity of perspectives can make companies more innovative and creative, and an inclusive culture can help organisations be a great place to work for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds. Conscious and unconscious biases within organisations means that there are hugely talented candidates that are being sifted out of the recruitment process, and we must address this so equal opportunities are available to all.”
Interestingly, a poll taken at the event revealed that 54% of delegates believe that Irish organisations are still not doing enough to encourage greater gender balance in the workplace, which means there is still great work to be done to address this hugely important issue.
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ENDS
About BT
BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2017, BT Group’s reported revenue was £24,062m with reported profit before taxation of £2,354m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com
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