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  • Electrocomponents joins The Valuable 500 global effort to advance disability inclusion in the workplace

    Electrocomponents signs up to global movement that brings together influential business organisations leading by example in embracing diversity and inclusion, and in nurturing talent

    LONDON, UK, 27 July 2020 – Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global omni-channel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers, has joined The Valuable 500 (https://www.thevaluable500.com/), a global organisation committed to advancing disability inclusion in the workplace. The goal is to persuade 500 influential multinational companies that have 1,000 employees or more to make a public commitment to advancing disability inclusion in their organisation and take the lead in encouraging governments and societies to follow suit.

    Electrocomponents believes that embracing difference is fundamental to commercial success and has a policy in place that is committed to diversity and inclusion across all of its businesses around the world. This investment in its people is underpinned by four key priorities – wellbeing, LGBTQ+, gender and race.

    By valuing different views and perspectives in its workforce, Electrocomponents aims to attract and harness top talent to serve the diverse needs, beliefs and backgrounds of its customers and suppliers. As an example, the company is actively engaged in discussions with agencies specialised in recruiting people with disabilities. The past months since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that businesses are able to operate and thrive with many employees working from home. This has very positive implications for workers who are unable to leave their home due to physical or mental health challenges and further opens up the pool of talent.

    Lindsley Ruth, CEO Electrocomponents, commented: “I am really proud to be in partnership with The Valuable 500 movement, which raises consciousness about the work we all need to do, to bring about equality and inclusion for all.  As a global organisation we are working to ensure we not only attract diverse disabled talent but that we provide long-term sustainable employment as well.

    “We acknowledge we are at the beginning of our journey and that we may not always get it right, but we are 100% committed to making systemic changes within our organisation to reflect those we serve, within our community, our customers and our suppliers.”

    Electrocomponents is among some 300 companies to have recently joined The Valuable 500. New research was published yesterday in the US by the Valuable 500, highlighting how companies are working to improve their diversity and inclusion policies. The release of the research was timed to mark the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

     

     

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    About The Valuable 500

    Launched by social entrepreneur and activist Caroline Casey at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2019, The Valuable 500 aims to put disability on the global business leadership agenda.

    The Valuable 500 was created by Binc, the organisation founded by Caroline Casey in 2015, with a mission to ignite a historic global movement for a new age of business inclusion - capitalising on Caroline Casey’s 18-year track record of success engaging over 450 organisations. The campaign has won three awards: a Cannes Lion, D&AD, and a BIMA.

    Our goal is to persuade 500 multinational companies that have at least 1,000 employees to make a public commitment to advance disability inclusion in their organisation. By engaging the most influential business leaders and brands, we want to create a tipping point within business that unlocks the business, social and economic value of the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities around the world, and the millions of us who will become disabled over time

    We believe that if business takes a lead, society and government will follow, truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.

    About The Valuable 500: Phase 2

    We have approached over 2,800 leaders across the globe to commit to specific actions including putting disability performance on their leadership agenda. The deadline to join the Valuable 500 has been extended to January 2021, coinciding with the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, and we will continue to build momentum and work with business leaders to complete the sign-up formalities to reach our goal of 500.

    We also will inaugurate Phase II development in 2020: a three-year effort to turn The Valuable 500 into a community of like-minded business peers committed to raising their game on disability by sharing models, lessons learned, and energy. This will include:

    • Helping our 500 CEOs boost inclusivity best practice at the leadership level through our Executive Inclusivity Programme
    • Developing a peer-to-peer network of CEOs committed to inclusion
    • Providing research and insight around inclusivity and business disability performance
    • Empowering our CEOs to integrate disability across the entire value chain and
    • Continuing to change the global narrative around disability.

    About Electrocomponents

    Electrocomponents plc is a global omni-channel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers who are involved in designing, building or maintaining industrial equipment and facilities. We aim to offer our customers unrivalled choice of product technologies, solve problems with innovative solutions and deliver a world-class customer experience, making it easy to do business with us.

    We stock more than 500,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers. We solve problems and provide a wide range of value-added solutions to over one million customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 50,000 parcels a day.

    Electrocomponents plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2020 reported revenue of £1.95 billion. Electrocomponents plc has six operating brands; RS Components, Allied Electronics & Automation, RS PRO, OKdo, DesignSpark and IESA.