The Body Shop launches ‘Youth Collective’
The Body Shop has established a ‘Youth Collective’ to enable its executive leadership team to get insights into the views and ideas of young people as part of its diversity strategy.
The group will be formed of 12 people from both inside the company and other B Corporations, all of whom will be under the age of 30.
The Body Shop said members will have the opportunity to shape the future of the business whilst working in collaboration with chief executive David Boynton and the leadership team. This will involve giving their views on long-term strategy and the company’s campaigns, as well as having ‘blue sky’ open discussions.
The model for the collective was tested last year during COP26 in partnership with B Lab UK.
The Body Shop said the initiative will enable it get views from a more diverse range of voices and will help to future proof the company and develop the next generation of leaders.
Boynton said: “The formation of the Youth Collective delivers the promise we made at COP26, to bring the voice of the next generation into the boardroom.
“I believe one of the most important roles today’s business leaders have is to ensure that we act as custodians of our companies. We must do everything possible to make sure that they are fit to pass on to the next generation of leaders.
“Whilst we may not always feel comfortable with the feedback from the Youth Collective, I have no doubt that creating a new formal mechanism to allow them to voice their opinions will be invaluable and make us a better business.”
The group will meet four times a year with Boynton and members of the executive leadership team.
Antonia Toni-Fadipe, inclusive hiring lead at The Body Shop, said: “Being a member of the Youth Collective provides an invaluable opportunity to be heard in a forum where young people don’t usually have representation.
“I am excited to be working with a company who are willing and open to try something different, to be tested and who show a genuine interest in inclusivity. Not all organisations would be as willing to be challenged by young people.”
