Boots Wins JEDI Award for groundbreaking Diversity and Inclusion initiatives
Boots has secured the prestigious JEDI Award at the People in Retail Awards 2024, recognising its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Led by the DEI team, Boots has made significant strides in embedding inclusive practices across its operations, from senior leadership down to team members in stores, with a focus on creating long-term cultural change.
At the heart of Boots’ efforts is the Inclusion in Action (IiA) programme, developed in-house by the Walgreens Boots Alliance DEI team. This multi-phase initiative has evolved over the past few years, initially engaging more than 400 senior leaders through in-depth workshops focused on empathy, privilege, and allyship. Phase two introduced eLearning modules for over 52,000 employees, ensuring a broad and sustained reach.
The most recent phase, Inclusion in Action 2.0, has brought DEI to the forefront of leadership decision-making, with tools and masterclasses designed to integrate DEI into everyday business practices.
Boots’ reverse mentoring programme, where senior leaders partner with team members from underrepresented backgrounds, is another standout initiative. This approach has built meaningful relationships, helping leaders better understand the lived experiences of different groups, further enhancing equity and systemic change within the business.
In addition to their internal efforts, Boots has garnered recognition for several external initiatives, including becoming the first health and beauty retailer to achieve Menopause Friendly Business accreditation and receiving a Bronze Award from the Stonewall Global Workplace Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Natalie, Chief Happiness Officer for PIRA, praised Boots for its comprehensive approach, stating, “Boots is setting the standard for diversity and inclusion in retail. The scale and depth of their initiatives demonstrate that long-lasting change comes from a top-down commitment and the active involvement of every team member. Recognising this progress is essential to inspire others in the industry to follow suit.”
Boots continues to build on this momentum with plans to expand its DEI leadership programmes and embed inclusive practices even further in the coming year.
