Hi, I’m Esther and I work in the People and Culture team at Sopra Steria, supporting new business opportunities and transitions. Alongside my day job, I’m also a co-chair of our Black Employee Network (BEN).
In my role as Co-chair, I’m responsible for leading and representing the interests of BEN members in Sopra Steria and our Joint Venture businesses; NHS Shared Business Services and Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL).
BEN provides a safe, welcoming, and fun community for our members and aims to improve the recruitment, retention, and development of Black employees. It’s about raising awareness and providing education, as well as influencing change throughout the organisation to ensure we’re a great place to work for everyone.
To me, Black History Month is a reflection and celebration of Black culture and what it brings to society and organisations. It shines a spotlight on not only the challenges we face, but our achievements, and fundamentally the progress, that we as a community have made! I work hard to raise awareness every day and every month. So, for me, while it’s great to celebrate Black History Month, the movement for education and change is all year round.
And finally, for organisations to be truly diverse and inclusive, it’s integral that D&I considerations are made in the people and business strategy (e.g., flexible working, immigration, and recruitment). This helps to create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves.
