The events were created to explore and celebrate the similarities and differences of people working at Pepper Money and covered a wide variety of topics.

These included an event on demystifying neurodiversity, a workshop on inclusive leadership and unconscious bias for managers, a fireside on religion and beliefs, and a session on being an ally in the workplace.

With many in the sector feeling like more effort needs to be made to rid the industry of bias, information sessions like these are incredibly valuable in creating a truly inclusive company culture.

Atlyn Forde, chair of the D&I Committee and senior manager of data insights at Pepper Money, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all our people, and we want to keep doing everything we can to make Pepper a place to belong and an even better workplace.”

She added that the past month has seen them sharing and celebrating their many similarities through various in-person and virtual workshops and discussions.

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“These have helped people to increase awareness of their colleagues’ lived experiences, share views on thought-provoking topics and take time to reflect on their roles in creating an inclusive work environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” said Atlyn.

Paul Adams, sales director at Pepper Money, took part in an ‘Ask The Expert’ session about menopause and found it to be very powerful and informative.

He said: “I am certain that the more time we can spend learning about issues that may impact our friends and colleagues, the more successful we can be in our business and lives.”

Martin Reynolds, CEO at SimplyBiz Mortgages, was part of a panel discussion on banter and stereotyping and emphasised the importance of being mindful of the feelings of others.

“Every office needs a sense of camaraderie, but while a comment here or a cutting quip there may seem harmless, they can potentially be quite damaging,” he said.

Martin added everyone needs to keep in mind that what they say might be misinterpreted, especially by someone with different life experiences.

“That’s why it is so vital to talk about what’s acceptable and what isn’t, where the line is and why that line’s important,” he said.