The firm says it is committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce
Coventry Building Society has launched a fully inclusive uniform. It means there is no longer a men's and women's range.
Now the clothing items are categorised as 'masculine' and 'feminine' fit instead, which bosses say will allow colleagues to choose items that suit their own identity. The firm says the move is part of its drive to show it is committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce.
The new diverse and inclusive range has been manufactured using sustainable methods and fabrics, the firm says. It has been launched at all 64 branches and its reception and facilities teams in the last few weeks.
The new range for the firm's 700 employees was created by London-based Jermyn Street Design (jSD). The firm is known for creating uniforms for Eurostar, Laing O’Rourke, PureGym and Jet2.
Designer Nihal Selimi's aim was to create a fresh new look to set the firm apart. She said: “The previous uniform was more typical of a banking environment, but this new range gives employees a more versatile working wardrobe.”
The firm says it is "aiming to create a workplace where everyone feels included regardless of gender identity, faith, cultural background and disability". The new range, the firm says, is designed to be fully inclusive.
Employees will be free to choose items according to their own sense of who they are. Items will be described as ‘masculine fit’ or ‘feminine fit’, "enabling everyone to mix and match as they require".
Coventry Building Society introduce a new uniform every four years. However, the firm accepts the move is a new departure for the business.
Alister Wilson, the Coventry’s Supplier Relationship Manager, said: “We wanted to move away from a typical bank style uniform and give colleagues more versatility, something that represents them in their workplace and allows them to bring their whole self to work. So jSD designed this gender-neutral range with a different ‘fit’ for everyone to select what works best for them.”
There are eco-friendly elements to the move, too. The firm says the uniform range is fully sustainable throughout its life. Many items have been made from recycled plastic bottles and were manufactured in Europe in an effort to reduce the impact of transportation.
The range has also been designed to make recycling at the end of its life much easier. Nihal said: “It is often the trims on garments that make them difficult to recycle so we’ve made all zips and buttons easy to remove at the end of their life.”
So far, the uniform has gone down very well with Coventry Building Society colleagues across the country, the firm says. A spokesperson reported that one service manager said: “I really love the polo and skirt combination. I was really surprised that I ended up choosing it. I thought the polo would be too casual, but it's actually a great look— I feel smart in it and it’s very comfortable!”
