Our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our team, and so diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) are critical values that shape our culture. 

We believe that diversity in all its forms brings a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which lead to innovation, improved collaboration and better outcomes for our team and the communities we serve.

CARE - these pillars form the foundation of our commitment to being an equal opportunity employer; and to creating an inclusive, representative and equitable workplace:

• Community
• Accountability
• Representation
• Education

Community

Community extends beyond our physical spaces. We want every team member to feel a sense of belonging, respect, and value all the time, everywhere. What we do to achieve this:

• Continuous Conversation: We strive to provide safe and open platforms to ensure everyone's voice is heard. Through effective communication, regular surveys, forums, and open discussions.

• Partner Standards: We expect our external partners understand and align with our DEI&B values and to be transparent about their commitment and action for change. 

• Employee-Led DEI&B Steering Group: Established to champion initiatives and change to foster a sense of community and provide a representative voice to the communities within our team and who are yet to join us.

Accountability

Accountability is our commitment to self-reflection and continuous improvement. Accountability is intrinsically linked to one of our company values - Own the Outcome. It means taking ownership of our actions and actively working towards creating a workplace free from discrimination and bias. What we do to achieve this:

• Zero-Tolerance Policy: Discrimination and harassment have no place at Patchwork. Our zero-tolerance policy reinforces our commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace.

• Transparent Feedback Loop: We transparently gather information to understand the communities represented at Patchwork. We strive to empower everyone to suggest and drive change. We conduct DEI&B reviews and feedback with our team, inviting even more feedback for improvement. Our employee-led DEI&B Steering Group is designed to provide a voice to all communities and drive change from within. This group is also a safe space for feedback on language, policies, and practices. 

Representation

Representation means ensuring our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve and operate in. It's about creating a team that mirrors the world around us and ensuring that our team feel represented from within. What we do to achieve this:

• Inclusive Talent Acquisition: Our hiring processes are designed to actively seek and recruit individuals from diverse backgrounds. We use blind hiring practices to ensure all personal information is removed from candidate's applications to ensure individuals are assessed on their merits. We promote our Referral Scheme to reach into the networks of the communities within Patchwork. We take input from our our employee-led DEI&B Steering Group on how to reach deeper into under-represented communities and leverage their networks to widen our talent pool and bring more opportunities to everyone. 

• Flexible working: We are first and foremost a flexible employer, this was a day-one priority for us and something we continue to stand for. Flexible working can be expected and is encouraged at Patchwork. We know and understand that people work best in ways that meet their individual needs and we know we can reach a more diverse talent pool by being a flexible employer. We strive to ensure Patchwork is a place where individuals can bring their whole selves to work.

• Diversity in representation: We recognise the importance of seeing people that share one’s identities in places of leadership, not only as motivational and aspiring but also ensuring empathy and understanding in our strive for equity. 

Education

Education is the bedrock of awareness. It involves continuous learning and providing resources to empower our team to understand the significance of DEI&B in the workplace.
What we do to achieve this:

• Team-Led Education and Awareness: We actively encourage and are delighted to see our team participating and sharing their knowledge and experiences with others, whether impromptu or in relation to an awareness event. 

• Talent Acquisition Training: Our training programs include interview coaching and bias training for hiring line leaders, this helps us create a level playing field for all candidates. 

• General Awareness: We provide training that includes bias awareness, inclusivity, equity and belonging helping us create an inclusive and empowering workplace. 

Zero Tolerance and Equal Opportunities Statement
Patchwork has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone, irrespective of their background, race, gender, or any other characteristic. Every member of our team deserves to work in an environment free from prejudice and bias. At Patchwork, our commitment to DEI&B is not just a pledge, it's an ongoing journey. We actively seek feedback from our team, recognising that true inclusivity is a collaborative effort.