Allow me to introduce ourselves, we are GROW (Generating Really Opportunities for Women). We belong to a group of colleague forums in Principality Building Society and are a little under 2 years old. With a mission to ‘Inspire colleagues to support women to fulfil their aspirations. Breaking down barriers. Advocating and Influencing change.’
So how did we come into existence you might ask…. In May 2022, a member of our Senior Leadership Team (Gemma) took to our internal communication platform and posted this message…. ‘Supporting women getting in to and remaining in leadership roles is so much more than just addressing the “motherhood penalty” . . .’
And that got people talking, with responses that cried, ‘the Mum guilt is real,’ but more than that, ‘I have changed my behaviour to fit in’ or ‘I didn’t think I was good enough for that role.’
Wow can women be still feeling this in the 2020…. but also, why did we not have a space to support women? Even with our pledge of gender equality. What can we do as to change this? How can we make everyone welcome?
Therefore, on a lovely July day a group of colleagues got together with the aim of getting a support network in place and GROW was born.
So, what is GROW and what do we stand for? We are a colleague network, run by colleagues for colleagues and now the wider community. We are Generating Real Opportunities for Women, which means supporting, upskilling, and linking women and their allies to each other both within and outside our business. Not so easy we know….
What happens when you ask what women want in a network the answer is straight forward, a place to meet people and build their village and a way to learn and improve so that is what we have done.
To build a network/village we have:
-Delivered multiple IWD (International Women’s Day) including event with diverse speakers selected by our other colleague networks, open to allies external + internal, and another with WIBF (Women in Banking and Finance) highlighting entrepreneurs and career women.
-Sponsored Newport Women’s forum which provides bursaries to women across the city to help them to fulfil their aspirations
-Collaborated with Community Foundation Wales to host a networking event for their colleague network, Spotlight.
-Visited the Senedd (Welsh Government Building) for IWD events.
-Help fund Trans Awareness Week speakers to support our LGBTQ+ colleague network.
-Supported Black History Month in partnership with our REACH (Race, Ethnicity & Cultural Heritage) Network.
-Took part in National Inclusion Week events.
-Consulted on Period Positivity, which has led to free period products in Head Office and Branches.
-Supported our Menopause Matters support group in hosting a colleague talk.
-Danced around the Rainbow roundabout as part of the Cardiff Half Marathon.
To learn and improve we have:
-Delivered Imposter Syndrome speakers
-Juggling Life Tips and Tricks
-Highlighted influential women in our business and across the world
-Personal Development Plans in action
-Hosted Public Speaking skills event
-Provided a Library of Inspirational and Career Books
-Held a live coaching session with a senior leader to demystify the process
So, what does this mean to our colleagues, of course the real reason we are here. Well, we have asked them, and this is what they had to say;
Kate Steele Cluster Manager – Monmouthshire – Grow has been instrumental to my growth and development as a female leader. Since joining, I have built relationships with internal and external stakeholders, got to know remote workers in areas of the business where our paths would have never crossed.
Grow has given me confidence to host my own event after attending a public speaking and confidence session recently.
Emily Morton – Head of Legal, and one of our key speakers at the event said:
I was truly honoured to represent Principality at the excellent International Women’s Day event the GROW network hosted earlier this year. The event provided a rare opportunity for women across South Wales from all walks of life to take time out of busy lives and come together in a safe space, to hear and share inspirational stories. I personally really benefited from hearing that many of us have faced the same challenges in our professional lives, and sharing strategies for overcoming them definitely gave me some fresh perspectives that I have been able to take back into my working life.
What is next for GROW…. Well to quote Hamilton, “we are young, scrappy and hungry,” so we want to go on the road and reach our branch colleagues in person not just over a call. We want to continue to build those connections across our communities and ensure that we give our colleagues the building blocks for them to achieve what they want to in their career.
