Our embRace network: helping to support communities and save lives

Delivering the energy transition isn’t just about infrastructure and innovation — it’s about people. To succeed, we need the right talent: skilled, passionate, and representative of the communities we serve. That’s why we champion diversity and inclusion at every level of our organisation. And that’s where our colleague-led networks, like embRace, play a powerful role.

embRace promotes race inclusion in the workplace where colleagues from diverse ethnic backgrounds feel valued, respected and empowered.— but its impact reaches far beyond our walls. Recently, the network led efforts to tackle a serious issue in the wider community: the urgent need for more blood donors from Black and Asian backgrounds.

The need is real — and urgent

Right now, in the UK:

• Over 250 donations are needed every day to treat sickle cell disease — a condition that disproportionately affects people of African and Caribbean heritage.
• Yet, only 2% of donors in England are Black, and Asian communities are also significantly underrepresented.
• A close blood type match is critical for patients receiving regular transfusions — and the best match often comes from someone of the same ethnicity.

When embRace shared these facts with our E.ON colleagues, they didn’t hesitate to get involved with;

• 61 new blood donors registered
• 60 donation bookings made
• That’s potentially up to 183 lives saved

And we’re not stopping there. Colleagues across multiple locations have committed to supporting future donation events, with plans already underway to expand across more regions.

Nicola’s story of turning awareness into action

One of those colleagues was Nicola Dormer, Customer Experience & Improvement Lead and Chair of embRace. Here, Nicola shares her powerful and personal experience:

"As a British Caribbean woman, I’ve always known how important blood donation is — especially within Black communities. The need is urgent. Black donors are vital to help treat conditions like sickle cell, which disproportionately affects people of African and Caribbean heritage. Yet Black blood donors remain underrepresented in the UK.

Even with that knowledge, I had never donated myself — until now. Today, that changed.

I’ll be honest, I was nervous. Walking into the NHS Blood Donation Centre (just a two-minute walk from our Trinity office — so really, no excuses!) felt a little daunting. But the staff were incredible — welcoming, informative, and totally professional. They made the whole experience smooth and stress-free.

Here’s how it went:

• I completed a few forms and reviewed some important donor information.
• My haemoglobin levels were checked to make sure I could donate safely.
• I stayed hydrated beforehand — essential!
• The donation itself took just 10 minutes — quick and painless.
• Afterwards, I enjoyed a sugary treat and a short rest before heading back.
• I found out in less than a week that the blood I donated has gone to Manchester Royal Infirmary

The whole process took less than an hour, and I left feeling proud, humbled, and honestly wondering: 'Why did I wait until my 40s to do this?'

This won’t be a one-off. It’s now a part of how I give back. And I want to encourage others — especially those from underrepresented communities — to consider doing the same. If you’ve ever thought about donating but felt unsure, I understand. I was in your shoes. But now, I can honestly say — it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done."

More than conversation – it’s embRace in action

This campaign is just one of many ways embRace is driving change inside and outside E.ON. From mentoring and cultural awareness events to community outreach like this, the network continues to empower colleagues and promote inclusion that goes beyond policy — into real, visible impact.

This initiative was made possible thanks to a joint effort between E.ON UK’s Safe & Well team and the East Midlands NHS Blood Donation team, who coordinated the logistics, promoted the campaign across our sites, and made it easy for colleagues to take part. Their planning and support ensured that from first-time donors like Nicola to our seasoned volunteers, everyone had a smooth, positive experience.

We know that to deliver a fair and sustainable energy transition, we must reflect the communities we serve — and support them, too. That’s why we back our people, our networks, and our purpose with action.

We’re proud of everyone who took part in this initiative, and we’re looking forward to what comes next. Let’s embRace action. Let’s power change — together.