Department for Work and Pensions 

The North East Diversity and Inclusion group, led by Joanne Gartland, was determined to make a difference, bringing teams together across the North East group. They worked to embed a culture where diversity is celebrated, employees feel respected, accepted, supported and valued, and where only individual capability and skills are the measure for personal growth and development opportunities. With a large number of new recruits from diverse backgrounds, the group looked for ways to harness previous experiences, ideas and creativity, making the North East a great place to be. Jo secured a Diversity and Inclusion lead to embrace inclusivity at the heart of teams, and this kickstarted their journey.