GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: FWD

GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER

WOMEN IN WHOLESALE IS PARTNERING WITH NATIONAL WHOLESALETRADE ASSOCIATION FWD TO FURTHER PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

Women in Wholesale (WiW) has joined forces with the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) in a new partnership to raise awareness and further expand the reach of the burgeoning inclusion initiative.

The intention of the new partnership is to help put diversity, inclusion and mental health awareness at the top of the wholesale industry’s agenda.

WiW is an educational networking event set up by Elit Rowland in 2016 to inspire, support and progress women working in wholesale. Launched before the first tranche of gender pay gap data, the initiative has proven to be ahead of the curve. Now in its fifth year and with more than 700 members, WiW will be part of the FWD’s Supporting Wholesale mission, giving the initiative wider reach and visibility.

WiW consists of an annual conference, a Speed Mentoring event and two exclusive reports – Six Steps to Advance Talent in Wholesale and How to Market Wholesale Jobs to Women. WiW was awarded Best Business Initiative of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards in 2018.

WiW Chair Clare Bocking said: “With this partnership we can achieve greater lobbying influence, helping us to truly achieve the change that we want to see.”

Since the inception of WiW, the FWD has dedicated 50% of bursaries and awards to females.

Coral Rose, Chair of FWD, added: “The past ten months have taught us that creating an inclusive work environment is not just about gender and race equality. It’s about mental health and well-being, too. Working together we will be able to expand our support and knowledge to the sector, creating a truly effective workforce in the pandemic era.”

Elit Rowland will continue to run the WiW brand and events, coordinating with the FWD.