Winner – Australian Vintage
A brace of recent awards paved the way for Australian Vintage to bag another from Global Drinks Intel. For starters, there’s the group’s ‘Inclusive Employer’ recognition by Diversity Council Australia, which was joined by the ‘Most Improved Gender Equity’ win at the Australian Drinks Awards.
The brand owner badges its strategy in this area as ‘Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging’. “Progress in these areas is a result of strategic people projects including:
- talent management & succession planning
- training & development to support female leaders
- behavioural frameworks & self-awareness coaching
- mentoring & role modelling, and
- ensuring a progressive people strategy is underpinned by policies and employee benefits that support employees at all stages of life.”
A set of ten tools are in play, including the formation of an ‘Internal Belonging Committee’, a mentoring framework called the ‘Uncorked Aspiring Leadership Programme’ and accreditation from mental health organisations.
Among the results of the strategy has been the reduction of the gender pay gap from 9% to 4%, while women now make up 40% of AV’s manager/leader workforce. Also of note has been a lift in retention rates, although the figures were not detailed, and the introduction of a culture and engagement KPI in employees’ performance goals.
“Our senior leadership team worked closely together to ensure that inclusion and gender equity is fundamental to the business. Our leaders took time to understand what and where the business needed to go in this space, their own self-development also key to success. From here, an ambitious P&C strategy became part of the businesses strategic plan.
Our judges said: “A comprehensive programme of diversity and inclusion activity that evidently shapes many of the company’s internal processes.”
Special Commendation – Ilegal Mezcal (Bacardi)
The judging panel was also keen to highlight ‘celebratingYou’, an annual campaign run by mezcal producer & brand owner Ilegal in association with the LGBTQ+ not-for-profit wayOUT. Ilegal, which was acquired outright by Bacardi 12 months ago, ran the programme in the US for the fourth time between April and June.
Rather than limit its support to making a cash donation, Ilegal also hosts a fundraising event, which is free to attend with a suggested donation at the door and features DJs and live music along with a silent auction in support of wayOUT. Finally, the brand fronts an “experiential space” in Brooklyn, which runs “seminars, workshops and events that serve as safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community”.
