RWS AR 23 Final Single pages - Flipbook - Page 69
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Being part of a vibrant, globally diverse community, we
know that tremendous value is gained from colleagues'
di昀昀erences. An inviting culture that recognises and
celebrates diversity enables colleagues to reach their
maximum potential and achieve their best, which is
fundamental to us and critical to our success.
Research has shown that when colleagues experience
a diverse, caring company it is a key driver of revenue
outperformance. When companies invite every colleague
into the innovation process, they generate more high
quality ideas, realise greater speed in implementation,
achieve greater agility, deliver sales targets and outperform
their competition.
Given the unquestionable impact diversity and inclusion
has on colleagues, the business, and society at large, we are
committed to further extending our culture of diversity and
inclusion. It is simply the right thing to do (see the Diversity,
Equality and Inclusion section of the ESG report on pages
32 to 33). In our Executive Team workshops we work to
include ideas from our Employee Resource Groups on how
to further improve the workplace.
The Board understands the importance of diversity and
is committed to increasing the diversity of the Group’s
workforce and of the Board itself. The gender diversity
split of the Board was 50% female and 50% male at the
year end. Females made up 33% of our Executive Team at
the beginning of the year but at the year end (and as of
1 October 2023), females comprise 36% of the Executive
Team. We aim to increase the ethnic diversity of the Board
and Executive Team as soon as reasonably practicable.
We place a sustained focus on diversity and inclusion.
Learning from our e昀昀orts in this regard, we take a holistic
approach to inclusion, choosing to develop a fair, equal and
inviting work environment for all colleagues, rather than
purely targeting the most obvious groups that are typically
under-represented in organisations with our pro昀椀le (see Our
People section page 32).
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2024 AGM will be held on 22 February 2024, at Slaughter
and May, One Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YY. Details of how
shareholders can attend the meeting are set out in the
Notice of AGM. Shareholders will be able to vote at the AGM
in person or by submitting their proxy in advance of the AGM
and to appoint the Chairman of the AGM as their proxy with
their voting instructions.
We are very keen to engage with shareholders and the Board
and I look forward to answering questions at the AGM.
Julie Southern | CHAIRMAN
11 December 2023
GOVERNANCE REPORT
RWS Holdings plc — Annual Report 2023
69
