Stonewater’s Equality Achievements Win National Praise

Stonewater has been nationally recognised for its success in promoting inclusivity and diversity across the business.

The social housing provider has this week been recognised as one of the country’s Top 25 organisations which achieved Maturity Matrix accreditation in 2023.

Shared experiences can be explored through the matrix 

Set up by the Investing in Ethnicity campaign, the matrix helps organisations assess their progress towards ethnic inclusivity, share best practice and learn how they can improve in this area.

For the third successive year, Stonewater has also recently secured a top 10 place in both the Network Group of the Year and Outstanding Employer categories of the prestigious national Ethnicity Awards.

Since its formation in 2015, Stonewater has worked hard to embed inclusivity and equality of opportunity in the workplace and its services, using the framework of the Maturity Matrix to support organisation change.

Jonathan Layzell, Executive Sponsor of Stonewater’s Race Equality Employee Network, 2GeTher, and Chief Growth and Development Officer at Stonewater said: “It is impossible to overstate the impact of the framework on Stonewater’s ethnicity journey. It has supported the organisation to change our culture and guided us to become more people-led.”

Continuing, Jonathan explained: “Completing the matrix has allowed our leaders to learn and explore diversity through the shared experience of colleagues from different backgrounds.”

Understanding the importance of diversity in leadership, especially diversity of thought, is essential to the way the organisation is run and decisions are made.

Stonewater’s recognition highlights its focus on constantly improving 

The Maturity Matrix assessments look at six aspects of an organisation – leadership and commitment, policy and data, culture and inclusion, employee resource groups, employee life cycle and external impact.

Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive at Stonewater, said: “I am pleased and proud that our work to promote equality and diversity has been recognised in this way.”

It reflects our commitment to creating a consciously inclusive culture at Stonewater and our drive to constantly improve.

Now in its fifth year, the matrix is backed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Governance and Inclusive Leadership. It aims to realise a more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.