Gary Zetter finalist for Race Champion award from Race for Opportunity
A London engineer has been recognised by Race for Opportunity, the national race campaign from Business in the Community (BITC).
Gary Zetter, 50, from Bermondsey in South East London, was shortlisted for the Race Champion award, alongside individuals from global organisations PwC, Microsoft, and Shell. The award recognises outstanding practice in race equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Gary, who has worked for FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing company Mitie for the last seven years, was shortlisted for the award for his commitment to diversity both in the workplace, and in his local community.
Growing up in a diverse community in inner-city London, Gary witnessed first-hand the many challenges his ethnic minority friends faced as young adults making their first steps towards building a career.
In his time at Mitie, Gary has developed a highly diverse team within Mitie’s Technical Facilities Management business, and was a founding member of Mitie’s externally chaired diversity steering group in 2010.
He has involved himself in various initiatives both within the engineering sector, and his local community. As an advisory board member of the Association for Black Engineers (AFBE), he actively promotes the ‘Making Engineering Hot’ campaign to encourage young BAME people into engineering.
Gary has also taken a position on the advisory board of Lambeth College & Career Academy, in an effort to help widen its reach to disadvantaged BAME students, where he is also mentoring a BAME young learner.
He further champions BAME mentoring through initiatives such as Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s ‘Lives not Knives’ campaign, for which he forged links between the YMCA and AFBE to provide 165 mentors for the campaign.Gary said:
"It's been a real honour to be shortlisted alongside such fantastic company. The real driver for me is not external recognition, but seeing the positive impact even a small amount of my time can have on a young person's life.
"When I first attended the awards as a guest three years ago I realised that by doing nothing I was a part of the problem, so I decided to become part of the solution and look for ways I could help young people to achieve their goals.
"It doesn't take a lot of your time to make a real difference, and I've found it's easy to find time for the things you enjoy doing."
Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, chief executive of Mitie, said:
“I’m delighted that Gary has been recognised by Race for Opportunity for his work championing race, in both business and the community.
“Gary sets a strong example as a fantastic ambassador for diversity, and a much needed role model in the industry. I hope his story will encourage others to engage within their organisations and local communities to champion the race and wider diversity agenda.”
For further information, contact:
Francesca Litchfield, Corporate Affairs Manager
T: +44(0)20 3123 8677
E: francesca.litchfield@mitie.com
