WDCA: Softcat talks Cultural Inclusion Company of the Year 2024 win

Joining the D&I community at Softcat is a journey of growth, empathy, and mutual support and welcomes you to a place where your contributions can make a meaningful difference

At Softcat, diversity and inclusion isn’t just a box to tick – it’s a pillar of how the business operates, collaborates and grows. From empowering future leaders to creating space for underrepresented voices, the company’s D&I initiatives have left a lasting mark on its people. Whether it’s through network leadership, day-to-day project work or simply having the confidence to show up as your authentic self, employees across the business are finding that inclusion fuels not only a stronger culture, but also meaningful personal and professional development. In this article, several team members reflect on how getting involved in Softcat’s D&I community has shaped their journeys – and why it’s something they’d encourage every newcomer to embrace.

How has being involved in Softcat’s D&I initiatives helped shape your personal or professional growth? – Kian Saville, (Services Engagement Team Lead, Empowering Neurodiversity and Disability Network)

Being involved in Softcat’s D&I initiative has profoundly impacted my personal and professional growth. It has allowed me to grow as an individual by helping me understand and appreciate diverse perspectives. It has provided a supportive environment where I can be myself, surrounded by colleagues who have similar experiences, fostering a sense of belonging. Engaging with the D&I community has helped me build a network of support, offering guidance and camaraderie whilst allowing me to share my own personal experiences. It has opened my eyes to new opportunities and challenges, enhancing my problem-solving skills and enabling me to approach situations with greater empathy and understanding and has truly made me the person I am today.

Can you share an example of how Softcat’s inclusive culture has made a tangible difference in your day-to-day experience at work? – Hannah Lawless, (Services & Proposition Development Manager, Women in Business Network)

The most significant example for me would be the way our inclusive culture drives diversity of thought. This has been incredibly impactful in terms of the services I've worked on developing - they have been successful because of the diversity of thought we bring to that process - bringing together people with all sorts of expertise, backgrounds and approaches from across the business and working together to create the best possible customer outcomes. When working together we make sure to listen to all voices in the room, to ask the opinions of those who are naturally quieter, and to listen to understand rather than dismissing ideas which feel different or unusual. Because of our inclusive culture I feel that my contribution, voice and experience are valued in discussions and that I'm listened to. This has meant I've had a positive day to day experience on the projects I've worked on (it's so motivating to know that you're making a meaningful contribution and are valued by those you work with), but has also meant our projects have every chance of success because of the range of opinions and approaches we welcome on them.

What’s one D&I initiative at Softcat that you feel has had the biggest impact – either on you personally or the wider business – and why? – Nav Thaliwal, (Communications Manager, Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Network)

On both a personal and business level, Softcat’s Ethnic and Cultural Diversity network and the work we do with TC4RE is one that is close to my heart. When the opportunity to join the leadership became available, I jumped at the chance to help share the passion I have with our network members and the wider Softcat business. As a network we celebrate cultural days across the year to shine a light on people from different backgrounds, we arrange food in our offices and panel sessions with speakers who can inspire others around them. We also tackle some of the harder topics such as the Middle East crisis or the UK riots last year and the impact that those situations have on people personally and how it might influence their working environment. I draw on my role in the Communications team to help navigate how we integrate the wider business into these conversations, and I hope that we continue to make an impact on delivering some of these key messages. I’m also a part of the TC4RE community and have made some amazing connections with ERG leaders across the other founding organisations where we share a common goal to help rebalance representation in the UK tech industry. Sharing experiences and collaborating adds to our strengths as business in the D&I space and it’s something I will always continue to make time for.

Have you felt more empowered to speak up or take on leadership opportunities as a result of the company’s D&I efforts? – Hannah Lawless, (Services & Proposition Development Manager, Women in Business Network)

I have found being a co-lead of our Women in Business Technical stream incredibly empowering. This has given me the opportunity to push outside my comfort zone in so many ways - including leading a range of volunteer workstreams, facilitating panel sessions, hosting guest Q&As on difficult topics such as violence against women & girls, facilitating large workshops, and presenting D&I data to senior leadership. Before I moved into a management role at Softcat, taking on these responsibilities gave me the chance to lead and support others - I developed a real passion for this, and I'm lucky that this is now part of my day to day role. I've always been incredibly well supported in taking on these challenges and opportunities by my manager, the other leads, and the business; it has definitely contributed to my confidence and helped me hone a range of soft and professional skills. I have found it incredibly impactful and empowering to be able to support women around the business and see the tangible difference we make.

In what ways have you seen Softcat’s D&I values influence how teams collaborate or make decisions? – Nav Thaliwal, (Communications Manager, Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Network)

Softcat’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is like nothing I have experienced before. It is embedded into each employees working day and you get a sense of its importance from the top down. Because it is so integral to how we function as business and we have access to training etc, the relationship between how teams across the business collaborate give us the tools to understand each other’s perspectives, be compassionate and look at things from all perspectives to ensure that when we make decisions as a team, we are considering the whole picture. In my day-to-day role I look after internal and external communications, and over the last few years I have developed a close relationship with each of our internal D&I networks to help them communicate the important work they do to the wider business in a way that helps build engagement, educates and continues to push barriers. I love listening to the passion that drives the work the networks do, and I see my role as integral to helping our networks really bring all our employees on that journey with them to continue making a difference to the work they are doing.

What advice would you give to someone just joining Softcat about getting involved in the D&I community here? – Kian Saville, (Services Engagement Team Lead, Empowering Neurodiversity and Disability Network)

If you are new to Softcat and seek involvement in our D&I community, these would be my top tips:

Joining the D&I community at Softcat is a journey of growth, empathy, and mutual support and welcomes you to a place where your contributions can make a meaningful difference.

This article is sponsored by Softcat.