Compass Group UK & Ireland signs up to the Race at Work Charter

Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s market leading foodservice business, has signed up to the Race at Work Charter, in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC). The initiative has been designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.

The Race at Work Charter is designed to foster a commitment to improving outcomes of BAME employees in the workplace. It consists of five principles to ensure organisations address the barriers to BAME recruitment and progression. Organisations that sign up to the charter are committing to:

Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
Capturing data and publicising progress
Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression

Compass Group UK & Ireland is joining around 200 public, private and charitable organisations that have also signed up to the charter. It builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, ‘Race in the workplace’, which found that people from BAME backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.

Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, said: “We would like to thank Compass Group UK & Ireland for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the charter they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals, and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”

Robin Mills, MD, Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “I believe passionately in equality and diversity, and now is a galvanising moment for Compass Group UK & Ireland as well as wider society. We want to celebrate the rich diversity in our business and signing the Race at Work Charter will help us to understand and tackle issues as part of a wider community. Internally we’re also taking steps in the right direction to encourage greater inclusivity and we know our people and our business will thrive on this journey.”

Managing Director of RA Group, Alice Woodwark has been announced as the Executive Team sponsor and Rak Kalidas, has been appointed Head of Diversity and Inclusion. They will lead on Compass’ strategic vision of diversity, including priorities such as creating a Cultural Diversity Employee Network and employee listening groups, to inform a detailed action plan.

These appointments build on Compass’ existing Diversity & Inclusion Strategy which aims to:

Create a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the customers and clients Compass serve, as well as society as a whole
For everyone in the business to feel able to be themselves at work
For everyone in the business to have an equal opportunity to progress their career
To widen access to career opportunities to encompass all in our society