Skip to content
First Response Group (FRG) has achieved Silver accreditation in the Inclusive Employers Standard, marking further progress in the Group’s work to build an inclusive workplace in which colleagues feel respected, valued and able to contribute.
The achievement is being announced during National Inclusion Week 2026, which takes place from 14–20 September. This year’s theme, Build Trust. Navigate Change., reflects the importance of creating workplace cultures where people feel heard, supported and included as organisations continue to evolve.
FRG has progressed to Silver after achieving Bronze status in 2022, when it became the first security and facilities management solutions company in the UK to receive the recognition.
The Inclusive Employers Standard is a robust, evidence-based accreditation that assesses how effectively organisations embed inclusion throughout their workplaces.
To achieve Silver, FRG provided a detailed account of its inclusion activity against Inclusive Employers’ six pillars of inclusion: Engage, Equip, Empower, Embed, Evaluate and Evolve. The submission was independently assessed against evidence-based criteria and considered how inclusion is supported through leadership, employee engagement, communication, learning, policies and workplace practices.
The assessment also provided FRG with action-focused feedback that will help shape the next stage of its inclusion work and strengthen how the Group measures its impact.
Ryan Powell, group managing director at First Response Group, said: “Inclusion matters at FRG because we support a wide range of sectors, clients and communities across the UK. The breadth of experience, expertise, backgrounds and perspectives across our frontline colleagues, support functions and leadership teams is fundamental to our success and enables us to deliver positive outcomes and experiences for the organisations, people and communities we serve.
“If we were all the same, thought in the same way and brought the same experiences to the table, our business simply would not succeed. Achieving Inclusive Employers Standard Silver reflects the culture we are continuing to build at FRG, one where every individual feels respected, valued and able to contribute, and where our differences are recognised as one of our greatest strengths.”
Emily Pattinson, senior Inclusive Employers Standard programme lead at Inclusive Employers, commented: “We’re incredibly proud that First Response Group has shown a clear commitment to building an inclusive culture and has achieved Silver accreditation.
“In what can feel like an overwhelming time for inclusion and diversity work, organisations like First Response Group are helping to drive meaningful change. By seeking to understand its inclusion development, FRG demonstrates to others in its sector that it is prioritising its people and creating a culture of impactful inclusion.”
FRG will use the assessment feedback to guide the next phase of its inclusion work, with a continued focus on embedding good practice consistently across the Group and creating a stronger culture of belonging.
More information about the Inclusive Employers Standard and how to get involved is available via the Inclusive Employers Website.
Article By:
Head of Marketing & Communication
