Race Equality Week: Turning awareness into action, together

Race Equality Week is a chance for all of us to pause, reflect and take action – not just on what inclusion looks like in principle, but what it looks like in practice. This year’s themes challenge us to look more closely at how our assumptions, behaviours and choices can shape people’s experiences at work and beyond. 

This is about people – the people who power our business and the communities we serve.

Stereotyping – seeing the individual, not the label

We all carry unconscious assumptions shaped by our experiences, culture and media. Stereotypes can seem small in isolation, but over time they influence decisions, interactions and opportunities.

Race Equality Week is a reminder to pause and ask ourselves:
• Am I making space for people to be their whole selves at work?
• Am I listening to understand, rather than assuming I already know?

Challenging stereotypes starts with curiosity. Taking the time to learn about each other’s experiences builds trust and stronger teams.

The Bystander Effect – choosing to step in

We’ve all had moments where something doesn’t feel right, but we hesitate to act – especially when others are around. This is known as the bystander effect: a psychological phenomenon where people are less likely to intervene when others are present, often assuming someone else will step in.

E.ON colleague, Maybo, shared a recent experience from a hospital waiting room. She noticed a pregnant woman behind them struggling to breathe and called for nursing support. After this small, but mighty, act, the woman was quickly helped. What stayed with Maybo was that no one else in the room had reacted.

“I had my earphones in and she was behind me, but I still noticed something wasn’t right. It made me question whether I’d have acted so quickly if I wasn’t somewhere I could easily get help.”

Thankfully, the outcome was positive but how would it feel to be the person in distress, surrounded by people who look away? The same hesitation can show up when witnessing racist harassment or harmful behaviour. Fear, uncertainty or not knowing what to say can hold us back, but silence can be taken as acceptance.

Data from Race Equality Matters and the Collaboratory (2025) shows 83% of ethnically diverse colleagues say microaggressions often go unchallenged in their organisation. Allyship starts with noticing these moments and choosing to act, even in small ways.

Communication styles – where misunderstandings begin

We don’t all communicate in the same way and that can often be a strength. But different styles, cultural norms and lived experiences can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

Race Equality Week invites us to slow down and reflect on how we communicate:

• Are we giving people space to express themselves in their own way?
• Are we open to feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Inclusion grows when we approach conversations with empathy and openness, and when we assume positive intent while staying accountable for our impact.

Allyship – from intention to action

Many people want to be allies, but allyship isn’t a label, it’s a practice. Being an active ally means turning good intentions into everyday actions: listening, learning, challenging bias, and using your voice to support others.
Our colleague-led embRace Network plays a vital role in this work, helping to shine a light on lived experiences of racial discrimination and championing inclusion across E.ON. Through awareness-raising, education and community building, embRace helps us move from words to meaningful change – supporting colleagues and strengthening our culture.

The Big Promise – building the future, together

Race Equality Week isn’t about one week of activity: it’s about long-term commitment. The Big Promise is about what we choose to do next: the everyday actions, conversations and decisions that shape our culture.

As we deliver the energy transition, we need all our people to know that they belong. Diverse perspectives help us innovate, connect with our customers and serve our communities better. Inclusion isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s essential to our success.

Our commitment

We’re committed to tackling racial discrimination in our sector and creating an inclusive future for everyone at E.ON. That means:

• Continuing to support and grow colleague networks like embRace
• Creating space for open, honest conversations
• Turning awareness into action at every level of the organisation

Race Equality Week is a moment to reflect, but more importantly, it’s a moment to act. Together, we can build a workplace where everyone feels respected, empowered and able to contribute to the transition we’re delivering for our customers and communities.