2025 Shortlisted nominee
INCLUSIVE CULTURE INITIATIVE AWARD
The Co-operative Bank has long been recognised as a leader in ethical banking, and its recent Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy has taken that ethos to a new level. Since appointing its first dedicated EDI Lead in 2023, the Bank has embedded inclusion into its culture and operations, aligning with its core values and ethical pillars of Planet, People and Community. In 2024, the Bank launched its first three-year EDI strategy, structured around ten themes from governance and data to learning, recruitment and networks. Achievements include creating a cross-sector EDI network with the Bank Workers Charity, launching an internal EDI dashboard, and embedding inclusive policies across the organisation. With 93% of colleagues aware of EDI approaches, the Bank’s culture has been revitalised, demonstrating that inclusion is central to both colleague experience and customer trust.
