Winners of Gloucestershire’s first Inclusive Employer Awards revealed

Businesses and organisations across Gloucestershire committed to building an inclusive culture in their workplaces have been recognised in a brand-new county awards event.

The GEM Project, which exists to support individuals trying to access education, training or work, has revealed the winners of its first ever Gloucestershire Inclusive Employers Awards.

Each winner was recognised for ‘embracing and creating a culture where diverse groups of people feel valued, confident and able to be themselves’.

Jason Dunsford, project manager for the GEM Project, said: ‘Each organisation has worked to achieve an inclusive and diverse workplace, going on to reap a wide range of benefits by doing so, from reduced staff turnover and recruitment costs to positive impacts on staff morale.’

A total of 13 employers won awards at the event, including Art Shape, Caring for Communities and People (CCP), Emma Willis Ltd, GARAS, Gloucester Services, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester Deaf Association, GL11, GL Communities, Inclusion Gloucestershire, Specsavers, The Nelson Trust and the University of Gloucestershire.

Emma Willis, whose Gloucester-based boutique shirt making business received an award, said: ‘I met the extraordinarily talented tailor and craftsman Ibrahim through GARAS and the GEM Project, who came with his young family from war torn Syria where he had lost his home and business.

‘We have now employed Ibrahim for three years and he has been an invaluable addition to it our business, leading our Net a Porter production.’

Event host Gloucester Services received a special award for its Bridging the Gap programme, a course run with Gloucestershire Gateway Trust to offer pre-employment support and a guaranteed interview.

By Andrew Merrell

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