We’re united in our passion and commitment to make a better future for people and the environment in mining areas. We carry out a wide variety of essential services from responding to coal mining hazards, to keeping people and the environment safe from mine water pollution. We are excited about what our future holds. Our work is helping to develop a new sustainable source of renewable energy for the UK. By harnessing the energy from mine water heat, we hope to play a key role towards helping the UK to meet net-zero emissions by 2050. We truly are a supportive organisation where we all live and breathe our values. We are inclusive, trusted and progressive in everything that we do.
In 2023:
We’re united in our passion and commitment to make a better future for people and the environment in mining areas. We carry out a wide variety of essential services from responding to coal mining hazards, to keeping people and the environment safe from mine water pollution. We are excited about what our future holds. Our work is helping to develop a new sustainable source of renewable energy for the UK. By harnessing the energy from mine water heat, we hope to play a key role towards helping the UK to meet net-zero emissions by 2050. We truly are a supportive organisation where we all live and breathe our values. We are inclusive, trusted and progressive in everything that we do.
During 2023 we have made progress on our Equality, Diversity Inclusion and Antiracism Priorities. We have;
• undertaken an inclusive recruitment review of our processes to remove bias and ensure fair and inclusive practices. This has included;
• introducing an Application tracking System (ATS) to help improve our employee experience, better monitor our applicants journey and anonymise all applications
• introducing a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for ethnically diverse candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for a post in, addition to our scheme for disabled people
• ensuring all of our hiring managers have received our ‘Ready to Recruit’ training to promote inclusive recruitment practices and ensure fair and unbiased processes
• ensured all of our job adverts, as standard, promote flexible and hybrid working opportunities
• our Race Equality Network has worked collectively and collaboratively to;
• provide psychologically safe spaces through meetings and listening circles for ethnically diverse colleagues to raise concerns and issues and provide peer support
• promote a range of events including Black History Month 2023 and the Race Equality Matters campaign for Race Equality Week 2023, including leading the ‘My Name Is’ campaign and the 5 Days Challenge.
• organised an exhibition on British Black miners in partnership with the Black Miners Museum, including a panel discussion with ex-miners to highlight the past contribution of Black miners and improve awareness of our history
• installed of a new vinyl portrait in our Mining Heritage Centre to permanently recognise the important contributions of Black miners in our history and coal mining legacy
• began a pilot for reverse mentoring to help facilitate greater access and reciprocal learning between senior leaders and colleagues from ethnically diverse backgrounds
• Commissioned our EDI training programme which includes awareness of antiracism and race equality
In 2024:
During 2024 we will;
• develop a new Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Antiracism Plan
• rollout our EDI Training programme
• continue to support the growth and engagement of our Race Equality Network to creating safe spaces for ethnically diverse colleagues
• deliver and evaluate our pilot Reverse Mentoring scheme
• work with local schools to support delivery of our revised Works Experience process to ensure we are creating opportunities for a diverse range of people and have a positive impact across our local communities
• take steps to further improve the representation and history of Black miners in our archives