Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
DE&I is a core pillar of our people strategy, and we have increased our group-wide DE&I activity by evolving our strategic framework and building a sustainable and inclusive culture.
We have introduced targeted recruitment strategies to reach more diverse and marginalised talent pools, removing barriers and widening access to opportunity.
We are also building a development pathway to support greater gender balance in senior roles and functions, creating a clearer route for progression and long term change.
Planned for launch in FY2026, we are establishing a network of colleague-led focus groups that will shape and influence our culture from within. Each one is designed to create safe spaces for conversation and support, helping to build momentum across the business.
Workforce composition
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group workforce | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total |
| UK and Ireland | 4,277 | 2,151 | 6,428 | 4,309 | 2,250 | 6,559 |
| Spain | 940 | 457 | 1,397 | 906 | 441 | 1,347 |
| Total | 5,217 | 2,608 | 7,825 | 5,215 | 2,691 | 7,906 |
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior managers | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total |
| Directors | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 16 |
| Senior managers | 7 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 14 | 32 |
Information as at 30 April 2025.
Senior managers comprise members of the Executive Committee and the Group Management Boards.
Charity and community
We support our colleagues in creating a positive social impact in their communities through volunteering and partnerships with local charities, and have been developing a framework to encourage all colleagues to participate.
We are proud to be board members of Darlington Cares, a local initiative dedicated to improving the community in which we are headquartered. We also participate in the Darlington Employers Environment Partnership, which champions the local business community in achieving a just transition to net zero and reducing environmental impact.
Our long term commitment to investing in and supporting the local community in the North East was recognised by Darlington council, who awarded us the ‘Bringing Success to Darlington – Stronger Community Award’.
We continued our support for the Northgate Forests initiative in Spain. More than 40 enthusiastic colleagues and customers gathered to plant 1,000 trees, reaffirming our commitment to sustainability and biodiversity enhancement, with 4,000 trees now planted.