// Co-op will publish its ethnicity pay gap data annually from 2021
// The retailer will also call on the government to make this mandatory
// To increase awareness for Black History Month, Co-op has launched online seminars
Co-op has committed to addressing the issues that ethnic minority employees may face in the workplace, in an effort to increase awareness during Black History Month.
The retailer, which currently employs 65,000 staff, has outlined a number of initiatives including publishing its ethnicity pay gap data annually from 2021.
The employer will also call on the government to make this mandatory.
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To increase awareness, Co-op has also launched online seminars, giving employees from ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to communicate thoughts with fellow co-workers on diversity and inclusion issues.
Co-op has partnered with Black Young Professionals (BYP) with its strategy to double its representation of black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) leaders by the end of 2022, an increase from three per cent to six per cent.
The organisation plans to increase this by a further four per cent to 10 per cent by 2025, and plans to create diverse shortlists for all advertised leadership roles.
Furthermore, Co-op will maximise the use of its apprenticeship scheme to support BAME candidates by seeking new partnerships that focus on onboarding young people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Co-op will also develop a new curriculum on anti-racism to ensure its employees are informed and educated about workplace ethnic inequality.
“At Co-op we have set ourselves the vision of working towards a fairer world,” Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells said.
“We will not achieve our vision without delivering on these commitments. These are not on the side, or nice to have.
“Our very purpose of existence will fly or fail based on our ability to deliver these commitments. We have got a long way to go.
“But I have the talent, energy and determination of my employees alongside me.”
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