National Inclusion Week 2022

National Inclusion Week is a week dedicated to learning about and celebrating inclusive culture. This year’s theme is Time to Act, The Power of Now. It’s about acting today to make inclusion an everyday reality. 
At Chemring, inclusion isn’t just for one week, though. It’s something we recognise and celebrate every day. Our diverse and inclusive workplace is what sets us apart as innovators. With a truly diverse and inclusive culture comes more innovation, new ways of thinking, and happier, productive and more motivated employees. 

Inclusion is about people feeling a sense of belonging in the workplace. It’s about helping people feel comfortable and supported and be their authentic selves. 

Our approach to inclusion 

Since 2021, Chemring has had in place a clear strategy supported by a framework of activity to incorporate our Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity (DE&I) objectives into how we go about our everyday work. First, we introduced a programme of workshops for all senior leaders and managers that provided education around diversity, equity, equality and inclusion. 

In 2022, we’ve continued that progress with an ongoing programme of awareness and discussion as part of all our development programmes from Early Careers upwards. In 2022, we have focused on gender diversity, and all business units now have a Women’s Network group in place, providing support, networking and community opportunities to male and female colleagues. 

Most recently, Chemring has partnered with Moving Ahead, a UK-based organisation with a mission to create inclusive workplaces where individuals and organisations can be the best they can be. As part of this partnership, all Chemring colleagues are invited to a virtual event later this week to celebrate Inclusion Week. 

Eric Pedersen, Supply Chain Director at Chemring Nobel in Norway, says, “DE&I is first and foremost about focusing on people. It’s about making everyone comfortable at work and creating a safe space where you can be yourself and feel like a part of the team. Listening is also very important – helping people to feel heard, trusted and respected.” 

WIN@Chemring 

Earlier in September, we celebrated our first International Women’s Inclusivity Network (WIN@Chemring) day across Chemring. The day was an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues surrounding gender diversity in the workplace. Also, it was a day to celebrate great things happening locally across the business in support of and organised by the women of Chemring. 

Addressing the UK’s technical skills gap through inclusivity 

Our Roke business recently launched The Roke Academy, designed to be a centre of excellence for learning and development, focusing on non-traditional areas of recruitment. The Academy aims to embrace undiscovered talent who may not have previously had the opportunity to enter the technology field. 

This includes individuals who have found the traditional recruitment process a challenge, are returning to work after a break, are transitioning from military and law enforcement service, or looking for a change of career. Candidate selection also seeks to challenge traditional technology demographics in areas of gender, ethnicity and neurodiversity.