Anchor awarded ‘Gold Status’ by Inclusive Employers

We are very proud to announce that Anchor has been awarded ‘Gold Status’ in the 2023 Inclusive Employers Standard, becoming the first housing and care provider to do so. 

The accolade follows the Bronze award status Anchor achieved in 2020 and the Silver Award status achieved 18 months ago, in 2021.

Anchor is a member of Inclusive Employers, which provides expert advice and support to workplaces who are committed to inclusion and accredits those meeting the Inclusive Employers Standard.

The housing and care provider is only the third organisation that Inclusive Employers works with to achieve Gold status. 

Sarah Jones, Chief Executive at Anchor, said:

While we know there’s always more we can do, we’re absolutely delighted to have achieved Gold accreditation from Inclusive Employers, recognising us as among the best employers in the UK when it comes to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

For us to have done this only 18 months since we achieved Silver is a mark of the hard work and firm commitment of so many across the organisation to inclusion in the workplace.

Anchor works with residents and colleagues to ensure inclusion is part of their everyday approach and has been focused on creating a workplace where all colleagues can thrive.

Anchor has given particular effort on embedding its inclusion practices by ensuring leaders and colleagues understand how the whole organisation is responsible for making diversity and inclusion an everyday reality. Anchor has also utilised the many resources and practices it has to further inclusion within the organisation.

Teagan Robinson-Bell, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Anchor, said:

It’s incredible to work for an organisation that not only cares about its colleagues and residents but shows a willingness to improve and embed a culture of inclusion. I am thrilled to see Anchor’s progress to Gold after being awarded Silver 18-months ago. It really demonstrates the organisation’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We’re the first provider of care and housing to be awarded Gold and I’ve really enjoyed watching our colleagues drive our diversity and inclusion agenda within their teams too. We’re dedicated to being a truly diverse and inclusive organisation, and this award recognises that commitment.

Claire Williams, Managing Director at Inclusive Employers, organisers of the Inclusive Employers Standard said:

Huge congratulations to the team at Anchor having received a Gold in their Inclusive Employer Standard assessment 2023. The organisation has demonstrated significant work and huge commitment to inclusion over a number of years, starting by completing the Foundation Inclusive Employers Standard 2019, and then the full assessment on three further occasions, moving through Bronze and Silver and now achieving Gold.

As only the third organisation to ever achieve Gold, and the first in the care and housing sector, this is a massive achievement and a fantastic example of inclusion return on investment – Anchor is a real role model for other employers with big inclusion ambition. Well done!

Read more about Anchor’s commitment to diversity and inclusion here.