After joining the home improvement business 20 years ago as a store manager and progressing up the ladder through various roles, Ben Jackson became Wickes’ first-ever head of inclusion and diversity this year.
Jackson began his retail journey at Tesco, where he worked in the bakery and stacked shelves. He then joined the supermarket giant’s management training programme before heading to Wickes. Here, he tells Attitude how Wickes’ support network for its LGBTQ+ colleagues was created and has grown over the years. He also explains how the company has addressed public criticism of its inclusivity policy, as well as his opinion on so-called LGBTQ+ virtue signalling in the corporate world.
Have you always worked in retail?
Yes, since leaving college. I went straight into Tesco and
