Train operating company Avanti West Coast is celebrating having received an Investors in Diversity Bronze Award.

It received the award in recognition of its commitment to building an inclusive culture.

The operator has been working with the National Centre for Diversity towards achieving the accreditation. The Centre, which claims that it is the UK’s longest standing provider of equality, diversity and inclusion accreditation, assessed Avanti West Coast on whether it had a strong foundation to embed diversity and inclusion into the wider organisation. The result of the assessment was the Bronze level.

Organisations apply for these awards, and answer questions from the awarding body. The Bronze Award is the lowest of three tiers of the Investors in Diversity Award, and is seen as a starting point. Further levels are the Silver (Embedding) Award and the Gold (Leading) Award. To achieve those levels, an organisation has to take further action and feedback. 

The three stages of Award aim embed in employers the best practice model known as FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement).

Avanti persuaded the National Centre for Diversity that it deserved the Bronze Award because it had used its policies and practices to develop and maintain an inclusive, supportive culture and diverse workforce through its policies, practices. This includes training for its Executive Leadership Team.

Avanti West Coast’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy inludes pursuing this accreditation. The EDI strategy aims to work with colleagues, communities, suppliers and others to advance equality and inclusion.

Most recently, the operator launched the “Together We Roll” train wrap as part of its EDI strategy. Earlier this year, Avanti announced that one in three of its new train drivers are women.

“We’re proud to have been recognised for our commitment to build an inclusive, diverse and engaged workplace.

“This accreditation is the latest step in our efforts to offer a place to work where colleagues feel valued and respected regardless of their background. We look forward to continuing to further develop our culture across the wider business, as we strive to have a workforce that is representative of society and the communities we serve.”

Jo MacPhail, People Director at Avanti West Coast