AWARDS HR TEAM OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY


O2 HR Team I


nternational telecommunications company O2 won the HR Team of the Year award for its commitment to increasing and championing workplace diversity.


Recognising that it must mirror the societies in which


it operates if it is to serve its close to 25 million customers most effectively, O2 has adopted, and continually adds to, a framework of initiatives that embed diversity and inclusion (D&I) awareness and practice throughout the business. Almost half of O2’s UK board members are women. This is


replicated across the company, including in its innovation-led functions, in what has traditionally been a male-dominated sector. O2, said the Relocate Awards judging panel, had


demonstrated a very proactive approach to developing talent through diversity initiatives. Going beyond diversity targets, it had shown a true commitment to culture change in widening its talent pool through diversity and inclusion interventions. The judges added, “O2 is to be commended in particular


for the launch of – and its support for – networks for minority groups. Networks have been found to be particularly beneficial in assisting minorities to gain a greater share of senior roles within organisations, as well as enabling such groups to access and be supported within international assignments.” Ann Pickering, O2’s HR director, comments, “My team


and I are thrilled to accept Relocate Global’s HR Team of the Year 2017 award. At O2, we share Relocate’s commitment to fostering diversity within the workplace, and to supporting talent into work.”


Judith Hunt, John Beck (sponsor), Elizabeth Carter


2017 10TH ANNIVERSARY


Talent development initiatives Supported by its values of ‘discover, disrupt and deliver’, O2 adapts to employees’ needs when setting up approaches to support its diversity and inclusion focus. Its women returners’ network, for example, enhances the skills of female staff moving back into the workforce after a career break, provides encouragement, and strives to create pathways to senior leadership roles. O2 is one of 11 champions in the Social Mobility Compact,


a UK government-backed initiative to improve social mobility. As part of its involvement, the company commits to widening geographically the opportunities it offers, providing structured non-graduate career paths, considering educational achievements in context, and publishing and monitoring the socio-economic background of its recruits. Thanks to this commitment, applicants to O2’s


apprenticeship scheme do not need qualifications. The success of this approach is shown by the fact that, in 2016, over half of the company’s past apprentices assumed management roles. Its championing of the Social Mobility Compact also means


that O2 does not target Russell Group universities for its graduate intake or consider graduates’ GCSE or A Level results or the subjects they have studied. It does, however, require undergraduate applicants to be on track for at least a 2:1 degree. Last year, almost 70 per cent of O2’s graduate roles were filled by non-Russell Group graduates. ➲


26 | Re:locate | Summer 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52