Retailer Central Co-op has held an employee-led celebration at its Lichfield support centre to mark South Asian Heritage Month (18 July - 17 August).
Led by We Are One, one of the employer’s employee inclusion networks dedicated to ethnic and cultural diversity, the event began with a walk led by a horse from Victorian Carriages in a South Asian-inspired feathered headdress. Often used in Central Co-op’s funeral services, the horse was intended to honour the diversity of end-of-life customs within the communities the retailer serves.
It was accompanied by drumming from local group Beat Asylum and employees from the network followed in procession along Queen Street, to symbolise the blending of cultural traditions and showcase how inclusion networks can shape workplace culture.
Central Co-op launched its employee inclusion networks over a year ago in order to give its employees a greater voice and agency in shaping a fair and inclusive workplace. Its approach to inclusion is built around employee involvement, lived experience and continuous learning.
Its networks include We Are One for ethnicity, Pride for LGBTQAI+, EmpowHER for gender equality, NextGen for employees aged under 25 years, and Ability for disability inclusion. These are part of Central Co-op’s commitment to fairness, equity and belonging for all, and aim to create safe spaces, deliver awareness campaigns, advise on policies and curate events that reflect diverse lived experiences.
Selina Butterfield-Mashoofi, chief finance and technology officer at Central Co-op, and executive sponsor of the We Are One inclusion network, said: “This celebration reflects the incredible work our employee networks are doing to make inclusion meaningful, visible and valued. We Are One ensures that ethnic and cultural diversity is recognised, celebrated and supported, helping us create a workplace where everyone can thrive.”
