Engaging with diverse groups
Tesco has established a number of networks to ensure that it
engages with all its people. Its four key networks are:
• Out at Tesco. This group represents those with different sexual
orientations. It has over 1,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) members and is recognised by other groups
as an excellent example of how such networks should operate.
• Women in Business. This is the longest established network.
There are a number of branches supporting women’s issues,
raising the profile of women in the business and supporting
them to develop their careers through training, mentoring and
career sponsorship.
• Tesco Asian Network. This helps to raise the profile of careers
at Tesco to Asian groups. It holds two events each year where
Asian colleagues are invited to attend to network, share
experiences and visit a ‘careers fair’ about opportunities at
Tesco. It has inspired a series of ‘parents’ evenings’, which
have helped Asian parents to understand the career
opportunities available at Tesco and understand the range of
jobs their children could enjoy in the business.
• ABC Network. This is the most recent network, which builds on
an idea raised at an Asian Network event. Its aim is to make
Tesco the employer of choice for African, Black British and
Caribbean colleagues and to provide training and development
opportunities which will enable more black people to reach
senior positions within the business.
Tesco also has strong links with many organisations representing
disabled people, such as Whizz-Kidz. It also has its own Diversity
Council. The Council sets the diversity strategy for Tesco. Its goals
are to show that Tesco is inclusive, to make everyone welcome and
to play an active role in the diverse communities it serves. Tesco is
currently working with disabled colleagues to establish whether
there is a need for a disability network. The business also works
with a number of diversity partners. These partnerships help Tesco
to build and improve its diversity strategy. These partners are:
• Stonewall. Tesco is a ‘Diversity Champion’ member of
Stonewall, a charity which exists to ensure equal rights for
lesbians and gay men in a society where they can be open,
honest and safe at home, at school, at work and in
the community.
• EFD (Employers Forum on Disability). EFD is currently working
with Tesco to help it to do a better job for disabled colleagues.
It will also help encourage more disabled people to choose
Tesco as a great place to work.
• Opportunity Now. This group offers support for gender equality
in business. It is committed to supporting the business to offer
opportunities to both men and women. Its key objective is
equal treatment of genders but, as it is women who are most
often under-represented, this tends to be its focus