Novus Blog

Our Commitments

We are committed in building a diverse and inclusive workforce, where our colleagues feel welcome and understood whatever their gender, race, sexuality, or age. It is for this reason Novus has implemented a dedicated strategy aimed at increasing our inclusivity, which drives innovation and creates a culture where difference is valued.

Our vision for change is supported by all levels of our business, with Executive Director Lee Hartley taking the role of dedicated Board Sponsor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We’re excited to continue to make progress against our goals and truly deliver on our vision of building a legacy where people can live, work and thrive.

We believe in driving equality for all and strive to create workplaces that reflect the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered. It is because of this, that in 2021 we introduced our Women in Novus network.

What is WiN?

The Women in Novus network (WiN) brings together female staff and allies from across every strata of the business to raise women’s profile and work together to create change. This network is one way we show our commitment to calling out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping to forge equality for women.

Sam Lindsay-Smith, Inclusion Lead at Novus comments:

“This network creates a space for female colleagues and allies from across the business to collaborate for the better of all, supporting us to break the bias and to identify strategies to support the movement internally for women’s rights.”

In February’s group meeting, 28 colleagues came together to pledge their loyalty and support the Women in Novus network. In the meeting, 19 practical steps were identified that will further support our female colleagues to feel a greater sense of belonging at Novus, continuing to make progress against our goals and truly deliver on our vision of building a legacy where people can live, work, and thrive.

With the help of WiN, we have already introduced a new menopause policy, created an enhanced Family Friendly policy, plus provided initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities for operations staff.

International Women’s Day

With gender equality at the core of our business, Novus was incredibly proud to support International Women’s Day.

This global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women throughout the ages is very close to our heart and aligns with our commitment to achieve gender parity in the housing, construction and maintenance sectors.

Looking forward, the next step for the business will be the launch of our Everyone Strategy, which will aim to reduce the Gender Pay Gap, increase diversity in roles at leadership levels and increase belonging levels within Novus.

We continue to support our colleagues by putting in place concrete policies and creating space for women from across the company to collaborate for the better of all.