We all have a duty to step up and protect our colleagues
With violence towards shopworkers continuing to rise, Retail Trust’s Chris Brook-Carter examines what can be done to stop the tirade of abuse.
Retail Week launches programme to drive greater diversity in legal roles
Retail Week’s General Counsel Summit 2022 sees the launch of the Future Leaders programme – in partnership with Be Inspired – to help support junior lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds to fulfil their career aspirations.
Celebrating neurodiversity: Why retailers should reassess the ‘normal’ workforce
To mark National Autism Awareness Month, Retail Week Be Inspired examines the benefits of a neurodiverse workforce and what can be done by leaders and their teams to become more inclusive of neurodiverse colleagues
Currys people chief: ‘Closing our HQ makes us fit for the era of omnichannel colleagues’
After unveiling plans to swap its West London HQ for flexible office space, Currys chief people, communications and sustainability officer Paula Coughlan explains the thinking behind the move and how it sets the electricals giant up for a post-pandemic future.
How 10 leading retailers and brands are breaking biases this IWD
This International Women’s Day (IWD) is a celebration of how to collectively #BreakTheBias. Retail and industry executives including Tesco, New Look, Sainsbury’s, The Body Shop, Fujitsu and Retail Trust reflect on the steps they are taking to challenge stereotypes and stamp out inequality.
How to avoid ‘pinkwashing’ to support LGBT+ colleagues and customers year-round
On the final day of LGBT+ History Month, Retail Week Be Inspired reflects on what retailers can do to not just limit their support to 28 days.
M&S, Kingfisher and Lidl back major retail I&D programme
Fifteen major retailers and brands have joined forces with Be Inspired, Retail Week’s six-year-old diversity initiative to promote inclusivity across the industry in 2022 and beyond.
Be Inspired: Beaverbrooks’ Anna Blackburn on becoming the first outsider to lead the family-run retailer
The first female boss of jewellery retailer Beaverbrooks, Anna Blackburn talks to Retail Week about her journey up the ranks.
M&S’ Cleo Thompson: ‘Disability matters – let’s stop ignoring it’
It has been cited that there are more clothing lines available for dogs than there are clothes designed for disabled humans. As the world marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, M&S group head of inclusion and diversity Cleo Thompson asks: “Haven’t we got our priorities wrong somewhere?”
Podcast
Be Inspired’s six-part podcast – Be Inspired Stories – celebrates the careers of women throughout the retail sector, investigating the personalities behind the job titles.
At the heart of the podcast is Be Inspired’s founding goal: to inspire women through the stories of others and empower them to become the female leaders of tomorrow.
The programme has since evolved to give everyone – whoever they are and whatever their background – the tools, inspiration, knowledge and connections needed to fulfil their career aspirations.