A.F. Blakemore & Son hosted its first Women in Blakemore event with an inspiring collection of speakers highlighting the importance of diversity and the company’s desire to increase diversity in all underrepresented groups.
Over 170 delegates, both male and female, from across all areas of the business heard how important diversity is culturally and commercially, celebrating the work that had been done to date but acknowledging that there is still much more to do.
Group HR and Strategy Director Ian Diment opened the event followed by Head of Blakemore Foodservice Caoire Blakemore who introduced the company’s E.I.D strategy, the importance of a diverse culture and outlined the current and upcoming initiatives to engage colleagues across the business.
Caroline Dakin of Caroline Dakin Associates championed the importance of resilience and highlighted how mental resilience can be developed through effective daily activities designed to take you out of your comfort zone.
The art of negotiation and women’s ability to negotiate effectively was discussed by Jessie Lancaster from the Gap Partnership, acknowledging that it was a falsehood to suggest women were less effective than their male counterparts.
Managing Director of Blakemore Wholesale Distribution James Russell hosted a Q&A panel with leading women across A.F. Blakemore, including Head of Trading Jo Wrate, Blakemore Retail Area Manager Ruth Mutton, HR Officer Ramandeep Kaur and Warehouse Manager Chloe Ball, each at different stages of their careers making a discernible difference in their departments, who discussed their progression through the business and what motivates them to succeed.
The keynote speaker was Jacquie Davis, the world’s top female bodyguard. With years of experience protecting the world’s most influential people Jacquie had delegates on the edge of their seats as she discussed the dangerous situations she has been in and the skills employed to keep her one step ahead, finishing with a rallying call that ‘you can be anything you want to be’.
Rounding off the event, Group Marketing Director Sarah Ellis demonstrated how bringing a diverse set of people with different skills and qualities together can deliver amazing results.
A.F. Blakemore Group Commercial MD Jerry Marwood concluded: “We need to build pathways for people who want to be involved in our business. We need to create opportunities to attract new talent by being more flexible. In the future I see a more diverse AFB, and the more diverse, the more resilient the company will become.”
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