Geometry UK Short-Listed at Ethnicity Awards 2020 

Geometry UK, WPP’s end-to-end creative commerce agency, has landed recognition in two categories at the 2020 Ethnicity Awards –  celebrating individuals and organisations working to advance equality and opportunity for Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in society. 

The agency is shortlisted in the outstanding employer category alongside Johnson & Johnson, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Freshfields, Lloyds Banking Group, National Grid, Allen & Overy, MacFarlens LLP. 

While chief digital officer Debbie Ellison is short-listed to the Inspirational Leader category with Nivedita Krishnamurthy, CEO Capgemini’s Cloud Infrastructure Services, Zaheer Ahmad, head of strategic delivery EY, Leroy Knowles, head of CEEMEA investment grade loans BNP Paribas UK, Kuldeep Mehmi, associate director Savills, Karen Finlayson, partner PwC, Alan Higgins, IT infrastructure project manager HSBC, Annette Byron, partner Freshfields, Mohammed Ahmed, lead finance business partner HomeServe  

Michelle Whelan, UK CEO, Geometry has commented: “There is no question that achieving an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace is a business imperative. We’re incredibly proud of Debbie and to see our investment into IE&D initiatives and progress over the last 24 months so highly recognised. I could not think of a better way to kick-start Black History Month.” 

Geometry is applying Investing in Ethnicity's Maturity Matrix to business to help track progress across four key areas; senior leadership and champions, policy and data, culture and inclusion and employee lifecycle.  Two areas specific to its business have been added - external communities and iconic work. 

Over the past two years,  Geometry has launched a series of initiatives including The Incubator, a two-week BAME programme offering 16-18 year olds work-experience - this year, students can be fast tracked to scholarship interviews at Hult Business School.  The agency has hosted Fearless Founders Day, seeing BAME female entrepreneurs pitch business models to investors and mentors – with plans to donate time and expertise to develop BAME owned businesses and entrepreneurs in 2020. 

2020 sees Debbie Ellison join the Empower /Yahoo Finance Ethnic Minority Role Model List and named Industry Shaper in the Women in Marketing Global Awards 2020.  

The Ethnicity Awards include Argos, Nike, Ben & Jerry’s, John Lewis and Trapstar amongst those shortlisted for the Brand Impact award.  

Public figures and big name celebrities including Little Mix stars Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock have been nominated for awards. Manchester United star Marcus Rashford and Liverpool FC hero Trent Alexander-Arnold join names like Lewis Hamilton and Anthony Joshua in the running for the Sports Personality of the Year Awards.