Alistair Cochrane talks about Diversity and Inclusion at the Institute of Couriers event

Learn more about the importance of diversity and inclusion policies at Whistl

Alistair Cochrane, Chief Development Director at Whistl was invited to speak at an event at Portcullis House, London hosted by the Institute of Couriers as part of the Department for Transport ‘Year of Diversity’ for transport of logistics.

The driving force of the yearlong campaign is that staggering 37% of millennial recruits will review a company’s diversity and inclusion policy before applying for a role at a company.  A figure that is expected to grow in the coming years.

The rallying call at the event was to ask companies to undertake one task that they can undertake to encourage employees to engage with their diversity and inclusion policies. 
Companies were also asked to sign a pledge to commit to the following:

• To create a network of transport people who are committed to tackling the lack of diversity within sector
• To create a culture where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is the standard
• To raise awareness of the practices and activities of organisations employees can engage with to increase diversity
• Encourage a wider demographic of employees to join the sector
• Build a cross-sector alliance of employers who have signed the pledge and will act as agents of change in the industry 
• To implement and share learnings industry-wide

Whistl has signed up to this pledge, and Alistair Cochrane commented: “Fostering breadth in diversity is about encompassing the company’s true potential.  Inclusion is about welcoming diversity; Inclusion is about what you do.  Looking at Whistl we have 1751 staff made up of 38 nationalities and 37% are female. 

“Initiatives we are involved with include being members of the disability confident scheme; continuing to participate in mental health week. This year We supported the initiative with daily communication to the workforce”.

“Whistl is out there and talking the talk.  A few things to take away today are, to, establish belonging, have a top down approach, quotas don’t automatically mean inclusion, minimise fear and maximise joy.”