Originally published here.
Making the IPO a Brilliant Place to Work
What does a brilliant place to work feel like? We believe it’s feeling confident being yourself at work, feeling valued for your contributions, and feeling supported to be successful in a way that is right for you and our organisation. Our working lives have changed immeasurably over the past 12 months. The pandemic has taken us from a predominantly office-based organisation to being one that has over 1500 ‘offices’. How to be yourself at work, and how people contribute has also changed and, along with it, the kinds of support we offer.
We are all different, we all experience the world differently and our uniqueness helps us bring different perspectives to the table, be more creative, and make better decisions. We believe in respecting people as individuals, and by extension, this means that we might not always treat people exactly the same way. What one person needs to feel included, supported and valued, can be very different to the next. Our cultural principles encourage us to interact with the best of intentions. Respect, reasonableness, accountability, confidence and pragmatism guide our behaviours, our decision making, and our actions. This is why we have been able to give our colleagues the support and flexibility they have needed to balance home and work in unprecedented ways, whilst still delivering excellent service to our customers.
We are committed to creating an environment where people are clear about expectations, have the capability to be successful and the confidence to speak up when they need help or to challenge things that don’t meet our values. Inclusion and diversity is at the heart of all of this. When our colleagues and customers think of the IPO, we want them to see an organisation they want to work for, or with. One where they can expect fairness, trust and action based on individual circumstances.
Our approach isn’t just about meeting our legal responsibilities under the 2010 Equality Act, it’s about building an IPO we can be proud of and one that contributes positively to our UK society and economy.
Meet Our Staff Networks
Our Networks form an integral part of the IPO. They are a place for our people to go for support and are integral to us building an organisation that’s inclusive and diverse.
BAME
Our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network
BAME is a network committed to increasing BAME representation and support in the IPO.
Michelle Llewellyn
Head of Finance Business Partners and BAME Network Chair
Some of our achievements this year include:
- - we’ve held 2 excellent, virtual panels exploring “Questions white people are too scared to ask”. The sessions aimed to tackle some of difficulties in language and terminology and give people confidence to be great allies
- - we continue to support the business by advising on Trade Mark applications which may face moral objections for racial/cultural reasons
- - our network chair, Michelle represented the IPO at a BAME panel in the Senedd with the Black Young Professionals Network
iCAN
Our Capability Action Network
Doug Adams
Trade Mark Examiner and iCAN Network Chair
iCAN is committed to providing support for all of our colleagues living with disabilities.
Some of our achievements this year include:
- - celebrating Disability Awareness with internal blogs from our people, raising awareness of the challenges and brilliance that comes with disability
- - we hosted a virtual panel with our people called “Questions you are too afraid to ask,” encouraging open conversations around challenging issues
- - working in partnership with the accessibility team to ensure all our products meet accessibility requirements
iPride
Our LGBTQ+ and allies network
Beth Kenure
Is Head of Internal Communications and Engagement and iPride Network Co-Chair.
Al Skilton
Is Principal Hearing Officer and iPride Network Co-Chair.
iPride is here for all those with shared experience in the realms of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. We are passionate about being allies to our other networks and colleagues who need support or encouragement.
Some of our achievements this year include:
- - our Co-Chair Al gave a well-received ‘introduction to non-binary identities’ for IP Out/Inclusive and for Cabinet Office Inclusion Week and we marked Transgender Awareness Week by highlighting the contributions of Trans and non-binary people in STEM and music
- - we continue to support the business by advising on Trade Mark applications which may face moral objections for LGBT+ reasons
- - marked this year’s LGBT+ History Month with the help of our iBelieve and Wellbeing friends. Together we talked about the difficulties we face in maintaining good mental, physical and spiritual health in a pandemic and the Rev Sarah Jones helped us explore the concept of social identity and the things that can make us feel like outsiders;
WIN - Women’s Inclusive Network
Gemma Jones
Head of Business Intelligence and Women’s Network Deputy Chair
Hazel Thorpe
Business Change Manager and Women’s Network Chair
WIN is the Women’s Inclusive Network supporting the IPO to be a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential regardless of gender.
Some of our achievements this year include:
- - holding myth-busting coffee sessions with senior leaders from inside and outside IPO, talking about the misconceptions of moving into senior roles, and how to be your authentic self
- - the sponsorship of women on an internal, structured Positive Action Pathway, providing women with coaching, shadowing opportunities and a recognised leadership qualification
- - Launching a tool for our people to report behaviours or situations that they felt weren’t ok, giving the Women’s Network and our central HR teams better data on opportunities to improve.
You can read the complete report here.