Here at Joules, family and community are at the heart of everything we do. As part of our commitment to building a better, more diverse brand for our people and our customers, we formed our Inclusively Joules Action Group. This group is made up of keen volunteers from across the Joules team who meet regularly to share ideas, discuss concerns and hold Joules as a business accountable to make sure that we’re creating sustainable, meaningful change every step of the way.
We caught up with a handful of members from the Inclusively Joules Action Group to find out a bit more about them, what they believe in and their hopes for the future.
Charlotte Jackson
Senior Press Officer
What does diversity mean to you?
To me, diversity means a true representation of the society we live in today. It’s about creating a space, both internally at Joules and through all of our channels, where differences are celebrated and everyone is able to feel comfortable and confident to be who they are and are truly valued as individuals.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
It’s an issue that I have always cared strongly about and I want to use my voice to ensure that the we keep up the momentum and continue to take positive steps forward. I also really enjoy listening and learning from the group’s experiences and using this knowledge to ensure that D&I is embedded in all of our activity moving forward.
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I think Joules has made a great start and a good amount of time has been taken to really reflect on and identify key areas for change. There have already been a lot of positive steps taken however, there’s still a long way to go – but that’s what the Inclusively Joules Action Group is here for! While we might not get it perfect every time, we will hold the business to account and keep pushing forward for positive change.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
I would like to see more diversity on the board and in the upper management here at Joules. I believe that change needs to happen from within and that is the best place to start!
James Hollingsworth
Service Desk Analyst
What does diversity mean to you?
Diversity to me is about having our eyes and ears open to the world around us, to welcome all people in and celebrate the strength that can come from working together.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
I chose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group because I want to see a positive change in how we see each other both in society and in the workplace, to be more caring, welcoming and accepting of each other. I also have a 5-year-old daughter that has a rare genetic syndrome (Pitt Hopkins syndrome), I want to help build a better world for her future, and I hope my experience can help others.
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I have a great feeling about the progress Joules have made by putting this group together, with the discussions that have already been had, to bring about a positive outcome that can last into the future.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
I would like to see a more diverse range of people featured across the Joules brand as a show of inclusion.
Ashley Lo
Marketing Manager, USA
What does diversity mean to you?
To me, diversity means having representation of a varied group of people. It is the opportunity to incorporate a wider range of experiences, skills and perspectives into a conversation. It acknowledges and celebrates our differences as unique individuals without exclusion.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
I chose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group because I wanted to see actionable change within the organisation and our processes. I felt the group could benefit from my unique perspective and that I would learn just as much in return by participating in these sessions!
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I feel proud to work for a company that has shown genuine consideration and interest in making actionable change in diversity and inclusion. I think there is a long journey ahead, but developing a strong foundation for colleagues and customers is key to long term change.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
It is important to me that every single colleague feels a sense of support in our workplace. I would like to see Joules become an example of how different types of people can come together with a single goal and work as a team while truly being understood for who we are as individuals.
Olivia Holder
Copywriter
What does diversity mean to you?
For me, diversity means giving everybody the opportunity to feel welcome and acknowledged no matter who they are or where they’ve come from. I think it’s about not just taking the easy option of catering to the majority, but broadening our minds to consider others. This way we can create a strong team that represents the society we live in today.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
As a sufferer of M.E/CFS, I wanted to make sure that the group had representation from the chronic illness and disabled community, but diversity and inclusion is something that I have always been passionate about campaigning for. The group is something I’m very proud to be a part of.
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I’m so pleased with how Joules has progressed in terms of diversity and inclusion as it has been made clear to me on multiple occasions that positive change is a top priority in the business, and I’m already seeing the results.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
For me, I would love to see a continuation of our efforts to recruit team members from a wider, more diverse pool of talent. I want the opportunity to work for a company like Joules to be available to everybody.
Dominic Smith
User Experience Designer
What does diversity mean to you?
It means understanding that everyone is unique and we should be creating environments where differences are celebrated and able to thrive.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
This is an area I feel passionate about so I jumped at the opportunity to join the action group because I believe it will have a positive impact on society.
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I’m happy with our commitments we’ve made so far and the considered and measured approach we’ve taken. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and changes were able to make.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
I would like to see more representation in our model selection for visual content – colour, size and ability!
Ruby Fowler
CSR Manager
What does diversity mean to you?
Diversity to me is really special, it is what makes us all individuals and should be celebrated. For me diversity can only make a business better and stronger, therefore it is crucial we are striving for a culture of diversity and inclusivity. For Joules I think it is really important that we not only work to make our people and customers feel included but we go beyond that to make all aspects of diversity the norm, by celebrating and supporting everyone no matter what makes them unique.
Why did you choose to volunteer for the Inclusively Joules Action Group?
I feel really passionately about this issue and wanted to ensure we hold the business and ourselves to account in delivering on our Inclusively Joules commitments. I chose to be part of this group to ensure we are amplifying the voices of those who may feel under represented, however I also feel it is really important that I am educating myself on diversity and inclusion issues that may not directly impact me, in order to be a strong ally in this group for my colleagues across the business.
How do you feel about the progress Joules has made so far?
I feel Joules has definitely taken positive steps forward over the last year. We have stopped, listened and critically looked inwards at our impact on the people we are connected to, including colleagues, customers, our suppliers and the wider community. We are not being complacent on this issue and have made good progress to ensure we are considering diversity and inclusion in everything that we do. However, I think we are also really aware that there is lots more to do, but we now have a strategy in place and a really committed team to keep driving this forwards.
Moving forward, what is the main change(s) you would like to see at Joules?
I would really like to see how we can be part of driving positive change in the clothing industry. Although I feel confident Joules will continue to make great progress to improve our diversity and inclusion as a business, I think it is clear to see that this issue is bigger than any single company or person. Therefore how we can work collaboratively with other businesses to challenge current systems and ways of working to achieve a genuinely diverse and inclusive industry has to be the ultimate goal.
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