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A forest is at its strongest when it is teeming with a wide variety of different species of plants and animals, each playing a unique role that contributes to the ecosystem's health. It's not the dominance of one group but the power of diversity that allows the forest to flourish.
We can learn a lot from the natural environment. At Hubtype, our journey towards inclusiveness has many parallels to the diverse forest. If we fail to diversify our work environment with people from different backgrounds and walks of life, we miss the opportunity to truly flourish.
Building a diverse workforce
Unlike the forest, building a diverse workforce isn’t always organic—it requires intentional effort. At Hubtype, we took a step back to reflect and rethink our entire recruitment process. Finding talent is crucial, but if we fail to promote diversity in our recruitment process, our team’s perspective remains limited, hindering our potential for sustainable and equitable growth.
Our Equality Plan is at the heart of this transformation. We've expanded our recruiting sources, particularly for engineering and leadership roles—fields traditionally occupied by men. We've made early-stage changes, such as meticulously reviewing our job postings to eliminate biased language—but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Tackling unconscious bias
Biases are like bad habits—when they remain unconscious, they can lead us astray. These unconscious biases can influence hiring decisions and everyday interactions without us even realising it. To combat this, we offer Inclusive Leadership Training and invite speakers who focus on cultural understanding and professional development. These initiatives help us recognise and mitigate biases, ensuring fairer and more informed decision-making.
Embracing diversity for innovation
Like a flourishing forest, diverse teams bring a wealth of perspectives, leading to improved creativity and innovation. We’re committed to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our culture because when everyone feels valued, engagement and retention naturally increase.
Prioritising diversity has allowed us to tap into a broader talent pool, enriching our team with unique skills and experiences. This commitment not only brings a sense of pride from a moral perspective but has also vastly improved the way our company operates—from the conversations in our team meetings to better understanding the needs of our customers.
Creating safe spaces
For inclusivity to thrive, employees must feel safe to express their true selves. We foster virtual spaces where team members can share their experiences and concerns openly. Our zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination ensures that any issues are addressed swiftly and fairly. Open dialogues about diversity and inclusion have shown us their benefits firsthand, leading to better decision-making, innovation, and overall business outcomes.
An ongoing commitment
Like the forest, inclusive culture is not a destination but a continuous journey. When the forest reaches rich biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem, it doesn’t become complacent—it continues to innovate and evolve.
Creating an inclusive culture requires a daily commitment to treating everyone with respect and dignity. This journey hasn’t been without challenges, and upon reflection, it’s clear that these challenges were opportunities pushing us to grow and innovate. As an HR professional, I am immensely proud of how far we've come and remain dedicated to fostering an environment where every employee can thrive.
The more we commit to diversity and inclusion, the more we benefit. It’s exciting to watch our culture continue to flourish and grow.
- People First Team
