Inspiring Inclusion at Abbeyfield

The International Women's Day 2024 theme is 'Inspire Inclusion', focusing on the importance of creating a world where every woman feels valued, respected, and empowered. We explore this topic in more detail and share the ways Abbeyfield are inspiring inclusion across our houses, homes and beyond.

On March 8th, the world celebrates International Women's Day, a day dedicated to honouring the achievements of women and promoting gender equality.

This year's theme, 'Inspire Inclusion' emphasises the importance of diversity and empowerment in building a more inclusive society. It encourages recognition of the varied backgrounds, cultures, and identities of women, who each contribute a unique and valuable perspective. The focus of the theme is about creating a platform for all women to share their stories, experiences, and ideas.

How we're Inspiring Inclusion

At Abbeyfield, more than 80% of our workforce are female. We recognise and embrace diversity, and have taken positive steps towards promoting women’s wellbeing in the workplace.

Becoming a menopause friendly employer

In 2022, Abbeyfield achieved accreditation as a menopause friendly employer from Henpicked, who champion this through their Menopause in the Workplace campaign. As we employ a high proportion of female employees (over 80%), and over 40% of our female employees are over the age of 50, it is essential that we support our female employees through the menopause. We want to raise awareness and are passionate about supporting our staff through this part of their lives, through encouraging open conversations about menopause amongst our teams, and hosting virtual sofa sessions where staff can grab a hot drink and connect with colleagues to talk about the menopause. We’ve also put in place a menopause policy, and have a dedicated section on our intranet which has a range of resources on menopause for staff to access.

Sharing stories 

At Abbeyfield, we are all about celebrating the amazing women who work here. We love hearing about their journeys, backgrounds and the incredible things they've accomplished. Sharing their stories isn't just about showing all of their achievements, it's about creating a space of inclusivity where everyone feels valued and heard. Through storytelling, we create a sense of community which shows us that anything is possible, and is a place where women can support each other and thrive in their careers and beyond.

Paths to progression  

At Abbeyfield, we are committed to supporting the professional growth and advancement of our predominantly female workforce. We offer clear development pathways for all staff who wish to progress in their careers, providing them with the tools and resources needed for talent management and succession planning. Through professional development opportunities, our employees gain new skills and confidence, enabling them to take on more challenging roles and responsibilities. This not only benefits the individual but also strengthens the voices of our workforce.

Striking the #InspireInclusion pose

We're striking the #InspireInclusion pose to show solidarity; inclusion comes from the heart.

What's next?

Ultimately, Inspire Inclusion is a call to action. It's about each one of us committing to making a difference, whether it's in our workplaces, communities, or personal relationships. It's about challenging ourselves to be more inclusive, to listen more deeply, and to advocate more fiercely for equality. As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024, let us embrace the #InspireInclusion movement and commit to building a more inclusive and equitable world for all. Let's inspire inclusion today and every day.