I would describe WHSmith as inclusive, this is really important to me, being a French person and with Vietnamese heritage. Since I joined the company, really, I’ve always felt included
It is well known that diverse teams perform better and we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of our customer base and the markets we operate in.
All of our employees should feel that they can be themselves at work, and we encourage them to bring their individual views and experiences to their role and the broader organisation. We recognise the importance of equity in all that we do, as well as promoting a culture of inclusion through our policies, procedures and working practices. Once a year we carry out a global engagement survey and have regular colleague forums who help make ideas a reality.
Whether it’s through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and employee networks, our commitment to the communities we work with, or our external partnerships with organisations such as Diversity in Retail, the Business Disability Forum, and Stonewall, we will continue to support and celebrate with our employees so that our business continues to grow in the right way.
We are proudly Disability Confident Committed and making strong progress toward Disability Confident Level 2, reinforcing our dedication to accessibility and inclusion.
Driven by our colleagues' feedback...
We’ve recently launched a number of employee networks that support WHSmith on our journey to being an even better place to work, and help us to develop more inclusive practices and policies across our business. These include networks for Pride, Gender, Race, Disability and Parents & Carers. Hear from some of our network chairs
- Our
- Employee
- Networks
Hear From Our Network Chairs
Gender Equity Network
“We believe that gender shouldn’t be a stumbling block on your path to happiness and success. We’ll challenge any inequity we see, we’ll break the mould when it comes to gender stereotypes, and we’ll listen to what our colleagues need. No matter the different challenges that we all face. Male, female, genderfluid, nonbinary or transgender, however you identify, we want to provide the help and resources you need to thrive at WHSmith.” Sian Franklin, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Robert Moorhead, CFO & COO
Pride Network
“Every LGBTQ+ colleague across WHSmith should be able to safely be their authentic self in the workplace. We want our Pride Network to be led by the many, not the few, with voices across the Group contributing to positive change all year round. Our network is a place to connect, share experiences, and make WHSmith an even greater place to work.” Nathan Wolfe, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Sean Toal, Managing Director, High Street
Race and Culture Network
"We’re excited to be in the early stages of founding the first Race and Culture Network at WHSmith. We’re committed to creating a safe space for our people to share and support one another, whilst also working to build an even better place for our people to work. The Race and Culture Network want to collaborate to drive change, and make sure everyone can really be themselves and bring their full self to work." Maggie Arthur, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Nicola Hillman, Group Communications Director
dis-ABILITY Network
"We’re thrilled to have recently launched the first dis-ABILITY Network at WHSmith. We have minimised ‘dis’ and maximised ‘ability’ in our name, to enable our colleagues and focus on abilities. We’re committed to making sure our people with additional challenges feel safe and supported at work. We’re also focused on creating a community for people to come together – either those with additional needs themselves, or those supporting others with additional needs – in order to share experiences and connect with like-minded individuals." Amy Giannotti, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Andrew Harrison, Managing Director, UK Travel
Parent and Carers Network
"Whether you are planning to grow your family, raising a child with a disability or special educational needs, or caring for a sick or elderly loved one, PACT understands the unique challenges of balancing a career with the responsibilities of being a parent or caregiver. The network is here to support our people as they navigate this delicate balance, and aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment by focussing on 3 core values: SUPPORT, ACT, CELEBRATE." Hannah Hester, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Gavin Wood, Managing Director International
Wellbeing Network
"Our vision for the Wellbeing Network is simple: promote a supportive environment where everyone thrives, both professionally and personally." Ali Thapar, Co-Chair Executive Sponsor, Sean Feeney, Group Supply Chain Director
We often hear the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But the truth is, words do hurt. The language we use has the power to either lift people up or make them feel excluded, unseen, or even unsafe.
In this video, our colleagues share their personal experiences—highlighting the words and phrases that have made them feel excluded, dismissed, or unwelcome. But they also share the words that have helped them feel valued, respected, and truly included.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the language we use every day and to think about how we can create a culture of belonging for everyone.
A Note Before You Watch:
Some of the experiences shared in this video may be difficult to hear. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, please take a moment to step away, pause, or reach out for support. Your well-being matters.
I advise senior leadership on complex business issues, performance, reward and pay, talent and succession goal planning, and more. My role also involves challenging certain senior stakeholders in their decisions. I act as their critical friend for decisions impacting people from both engagement and well-being perspectives, I also work closely with our talent acquisition partners to ensure we have sufficient diversity representation across all levels."
Our Values
We strive to be outward-facing and customer-focused:
an organisation that keeps its promises. Living our Four Key Values is an important part of achieving this aim:
Customer Focus
We keep the customer at the heart of all that we do.
Value Our People
Our people are respected and valued in an honest, open environment.
Drive for Results
We push ourselves to achieve ambitious and competitive results – delivered with pace.
Accountablity
We take personal responsibility and deliver what we say we will.
Discover Our History
From our first store in 1792 to our 230th anniversary celebrations in 2022, we’ve worked hard to create a special place to start your career journey.
Vision & Values
We're a big business with a big heart and we're excited about our bright future ahead - and it's all thanks to our clear vision and strong values.
Our Responsibilities
We’re proud to be the kind of business who always does the right thing when it comes to our people, our communities, and our planet.
Our Locations
We’ve come a long, long way from Little Grosvenor Street in London. Today, you can buy our products online at whsmith.co.uk, and you’ll also find our stores and head offices across the world.
