Introducing Jennie Pitt, our Head of D, E & I
Jennie Pitt is Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at Newcastle Building Society. Hailing originally from Manchester, Jennie moved to Yorkshire with her family 20 years ago living originally in Richmond before moving to North Allerton, where she currently lives.
Jennie moved to Yorkshire when she transferred from Manchester to North Yorkshire's Fire and Rescue Service. From there she moved to Virgin Trains, LNER, the energy and facilities management firm Engie, and now works for Newcastle Building Society. She has two Post Graduate Diplomas - one in Integrative Psychotherapy from Swansea University and the other in Human Resource Management from Leeds.
As importantly, Jennie has three daughters and, away from work, is currently undertaking a significant home improvement project that involves major works like breaking down walls. A big project with a lot of complexity that requires a lot of thought and nuance - much like the day job.
How has your experience through your career prepared you for the role you have today?
When I look back, I realise how much of my career has been spent in less diverse workplaces. What this showed me is that culture develops whether you curate it or not. However, if you do not try to support the culture you want, you may end up with something that doesn't help the business flourish. My interest in psychotherapy became a foundation for my work today as it taught me how to unpick difficult cultural issues between groups and individuals and understand where everyone is coming from. So much of what we think is inherited from parents, peers, educators and more. It's important to understand what we are working towards is greater empathy - understanding what it is like to be in someone else's shoes. Some of the most meaningful work we do is getting people to understand how all our starting points are different and that being the case, they can, even without you knowing it, give you a head start or set you back. If we can understand that then we can connect better and make more of the talent and opportunities around us.
What excites you about your role?
My role is primarily about shaping the broader culture of the business to make sure it performs as well as it can and everyone feels a valued member of the team.
When I first came to Newcastle Building Society, what impressed me was just how much focus is placed on colleagues and delivering on our purpose of 'connecting our communities with a better financial future'. The Society is a signed up advocate of the Women in Finance Charter and has already appointed executive level sponsors for Women in Leadership, Race, Social Mobility, Disability and LGBTQ+. The Society also has in place reverse mentoring for all executives focussed on diversity and inclusion. I am also proud that Newcastle Intermediaries is an active member of the Diversity & Inclusivity Finance Forum (DIFF) with the aim of promoting and discussing key ideas and activities to create a more balanced and fair mortgage industry.
My job is, in part, to help us as a Society better reflect the communities we serve. If you look at the Office of National Statistics data for example, there are many communities in and around Newcastle that are not represented in the Society. But it goes much deeper than that. By developing better empathy and kindness for all our colleagues, we can really make the Society an even better place to work - and make sure we can meet the expectations of future employees. We are working hard to weave inclusive principles into all of our ways of working and are creating tools that allow people to develop relationships, and empathy with others, whatever their starting point. We are also making important progress with our Listening Circles and Employee Networks that really allow us all to know what it is like to see life through someone else's lens. We have a roadmap for Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity signed off by the executive team now which will put us on the path to delivering this kind of change.
Our commitment doesn't stop with colleagues; we are making a huge difference to diverse communities through some of the work we support through our Community Fund and, we have been able to change some of our customer facing practices and environments. For example, we have introduced the slow shopping hour for customers who may have additional needs and are training all of our colleagues to be Dementia Friends.
What ambitions do you have for the Society and your role in it?
Over the last decade or so, all companies, both private and public, have been steadily understanding and acting on this and today policy makers and regulators are taking a keen interest in what we are doing about diversity, equity and inclusion. We need to meet that challenge.
I think if I can help get the Society to a place where we are known for our inclusive culture and other companies in the area turn to us for examples of best practice, that would be a huge achievement. If we can be leaders in this field, support our Society's purpose and have implemented our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion roadmap, we will have achieved something that few businesses in our sector, never mind beyond, will have achieved. There is plenty to do but I am looking forward to working with the business to take positive steps forward.
For more information about how we can help you do business:
Talk to your dedicated Business Development Manager or contact your Intermediary Support Team at Intermediary.lending@newcastle.co.uk or 0345 602 2338. Our lines are open 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.
We're finalists at this year's Financial Reporter Brokers' Choice Awards!
The Financial Reporter Brokers' Choice Awards are back and we are delighted to be finalists for 'Best Mortgage Lender'!
Our BDMs, underwriters and mortgage teams work tirelessly to provide you and your clients with the best possible service. This year it is up to the intermediary community to have the final say. If you have had the opportunity to work with any of our amazing teams, please give us your vote using the link below.
Voting closes on Friday 14th April!
As always, we couldn't do it without you!
