Embracing Inclusion
Our Within Network aims to promote cultural diversity in our work environment and inspires others to do the same. The community is made up of employees from a range of cultural backgrounds and representative of different areas of our business.
The aim of the network is to design and develop plans, solutions and ideas on how to further improve our diversity within Compass Group UK & Ireland and be a voice for all our colleagues. The network group focusses on four main objectives:
- Listen
- Take a Stand
- Attract
- Progress
Within Chair
Rak Kalidas - Commercial Director, Levy
I have been with Compass for six years. My experience has been in major events (2012 Olympics and Rugby World Cup 2015) and hotels. My Compass journey has been with Levy, heading up our central functions teams in business excellence, design, marketing & project management.
During the pandemic I was fortunate to pivot my role to head up the D&I strategy for Compass UK & I, during which I set up the first Ethnic Minority Network, Within. Within is really close to my heart, being an ethnic minority leader in the business with lived experiences this network allowed me to bring together a diverse team to have a voice, share experiences and discuss initiatives to enact positive cultural change.
Russell Blake - MD, Healthcare
My first role in Compass Group UK&I was back in 1999 with Eurest where I mobilised and managed a state-of-the-art greenfield site for Computer Associates. I have worked in various roles throughout the business and in 2014, I joined the Healthcare family as Business Director for White Oaks and Medirest Signature. I was promoted to Managing Director of Hospitals and Senior Living in October 2019 and in April 2022, Managing Director of Healthcare.
My goal as the Exec Sponsor is to understand the challenges faced by some in terms of reaching their full career potential. Why don’t we have a better representation across all ethnicities in senior positions across the business? What is preventing this? What cultural changes are required?
By having a more thorough understanding, I hope to make positive steps to support the change required to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities available to them regardless of their ethnicity or background.
