Communicating the progress made by a UK construction company through its Inclusion and Diversity report
Wates | Inclusion & Diversity Report
Context
Every year, Wates publishes an Inclusion & Diversity Impact Report to show the progress it is making towards a fairer workplace. In an industry where inclusion has not always been a key focus, the report needed to demonstrate Wates’ progress towards building an organisation that better reflects the communities it serves clearly and transparently.
Approach
We framed the report around a clear narrative aligned to the #WatesTogether strategy, refining the copy where needed to make the content clear, consistent and easy to follow. Through thoughtful design, considered layout and authentic employee stories, we helped the report tell a credible story of progress and action over the year.
Outcome
The report gave Wates a clearer platform for telling the story of its Inclusion and Diversity impact. Moving beyond simply reporting information, it showed how Wates was making tangible progress towards a fairer workplace and connected inclusion initiatives to real employee experiences.
Wates’ annual Inclusion & Diversity Report is designed for a broad mix of internal and external stakeholders who are invested in or impacted by the company’s workforce, culture and approach to equity.
This year’s report needed to be transparent and present gender and ethnicity pay gap data clearly, while bringing the #WatesTogether strategy to life and communicating that meaningful action was underway across the business.
A creative approach that focused on progress and employee stories
We designed the report structure to demonstrate transparency, progress and the personal impact of Wates’ inclusion and diversity initiatives.
Visually, we developed a refreshed creative approach based on the idea of focus and visibility. With the insight that underrepresented groups can often feel unseen or misunderstood, a subtle glass motif was introduced to bring focus to people, initiatives and topics. This creative element reflected the attention Wates is placing on underrepresented communities through its inclusion and diversity work.
Personal stories were brought front and centre through authentic employee quotes featured throughout the report. These helped show how different inclusion and diversity initiatives are having a positive impact on people across the business.
We also created a new graphic for the #WatesTogether strategy, which acted as a visual anchor throughout the report. This helped connect the inclusion and diversity strategy to the report’s messaging, data and examples of progress.
How we made a meaningful difference
By creating a coherent, thoughtfully designed report, we helped Wates demonstrate accountability and the progress they are making. Wates know inclusion is an ongoing journey, with meaningful progress already made and gaps still to close. We’re helping them communicate that journey honestly, while setting a high standard for future reporting across the organisation and the wider industry.
Big Insight
Inclusion reporting builds trust when it combines transparency with human stories – clear data, clear direction and real voices.
Working with Something Big was a smooth and well-managed experience. The initial kick-off calls were particularly helpful, allowing us to quickly identify our key needs and objectives. The agency’s support was invaluable. The collaborative nature of the project made it a success, and I am extremely pleased with the final report.
— Nikunj Upadhyay, Inclusion and Diversity Director
What we delivered
- Content recommendations and copywriting support
- Creative concept and visual identity
- Full report layout and design
- Gender and ethnicity pay gap data design
- Employee storytelling
Award recognition
The Wates Inclusion & Diversity Impact Report won Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion Reporting at the Corporate Reporting Awards, recognising its thoughtful design, considered layout and authentic employee stories.
