Diversity and inclusion training
Findel Education (Findel) is one of the largest suppliers of school and early years resources to primary, secondary and nursery educational establishments in the UK. It also exports to 130 countries. Findel is a one-stop shop for educational needs and support. With a history of helping schools, nurseries, and educational establishments flourish, Findel has supported educational communities for more than 200 years. The company provides tools and services to help educators work smarter and make a measurable difference to future generations, with school essentials, classroom resources, sport and educational needs support. Findel has around 300 employees, won the Tameside Business Awards’ Employer of the Year 2023 and gained Great Place to Work certification in November 2024.
Findel is committed to maintaining and strengthening priorities that align with the company’s overarching environmental, social and governance strategy. It aims to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion where all Findel colleagues thrive and feel a strong sense of belonging to its organisation.
Watershed helped Findel to develop its diversity and inclusion roadmap, enabling better business outcomes through a more diverse workforce that reflects the communities and customers it serves. Informed by the roadmap, Watershed reviewed the company’s policy to ensure that it went beyond the legislative framework of the Equality Act 2010, and was representative of Findel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The training sessions for Findel’s 50 leaders, nine of whom are Board members, introduced and explained the company’s diversity and inclusion roadmap and revised policy. This helped remind Findel’s people of the company’s values and to raise awareness of the importance if a diverse workforce and inclusive methodologies and practices.
Watershed delivered three workshops for which it created bespoke content, including:
- Disability and reasonable adjustments
- Gender critical beliefs
- Gender fluidity
- Neurodiversity
- Political beliefs
- Religion
- Workplace banter, particularly focusing on potential race and sex discrimination
The feedback from the workshops was extremely positive, with attendees strongly agreeing that they could use what they had learnt to help them as a leader. Many enjoyed the sessions, appreciating the clear delivery of the content, explanations of definitions and terminology and case studies that provided context to the legal topics explored. They felt the training was relevant to their work and ‘opened their eyes’ to how everything they say and do as a leader is amplified.
“The training sessions were a game-changer for Findel. Expertly facilitated by Ian McGlashan of Watershed, our leaders learned about a broad range of D&I topics with an emphasis on how they can make Findel an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. The sessions really helped the business to start a positive and open conversation about D&I, as part of our ongoing D&I roadmap.” – Emma Holt, HR Business Partner, Findel.
