Diversity, Belonging & Human Rights

Our WoC program, launched in February 2022, aims to understand the intersectional impact that gender and ethnicity have on the experiences and career progression of Women of Color in Arcadis. We are using these insights to co-create solutions that will lead to an equitable environment where each Arcadian, current or future, has access to opportunities to enable them to grow, develop and achieve their full potential. This is a first for Arcadis. We are following its success by creating forums that help us identify hidden underrepresented talent – feeding directly into our talent pipelines. 

Sponsorship is most often cited as a success factor in corporate careers; however, it is not necessarily something that everyone benefits from or has access to. Our new global sponsorship program is designed to create the environment for Arcadians from underrepresented groups to access leadership networks and support to progress their careers. Launched in 2022, it will be fully implemented globally in 2023.

Fostering purpose and supporting Arcadians to feel physically and psychologically healthy and safe at work, creates a more resilient workforce and improves our wellbeing. That is why we have taken a data and insight driven approach in 2022 to amplify our global wellbeing and resilience roadmap. We are focused on a preventive approach, amplified in the ongoing promotion of wellbeing initiatives. Our wellbeing roadmap focuses on primary intervention at an organizational level through the mitigation of workplace hazards which may have a negative impact on the wellbeing of Arcadians. 

We have chosen to align our company’s operations with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Our long-term human rights objective is to embed purposeful actions and behaviors within and around Arcadis that create a positive impact for people, communities, and our planet. We understand respect for human rights is the key to unlocking a sustainable present and future, meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and tackling significant societal challenges like inequality and discrimination. 

Arcadis is a proud member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global, CEO-led organization of around 200 leading businesses, accelerating the transition to a sustainable world. Our WBCSD membership gives us an opportunity to share knowledge and work to integrate global value chains. We are co-creating scalable business solutions that transform major economic systems and deliver significant contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.