Janeace (Jay-T) Thompson, Director of Talent, Culture and Experience at PRS for Music has been shortlisted in the HR Champion of the Year category at the British Diversity Awards 2024.
Promoting the values of equality, diversity and inclusion by celebrating those individuals, organisations and unsung heroes who help to make the workplace a better space for others, the awards will take place at Grosvenor House Hotel on 20 March 2024, hosted by BAFTA-winning TV presenter Dr Ranj and Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph.
The HR Champion of the Year award is given to a leading HR professional who has leveraged their influence to ensure that the values of diversity and fairness are at the heart of their organisation’s policies and to ensure their workplace has diverse talent covering all sections of the workplace.
Jay-T joined PRS for Music in March 2022, following a varied and extensive career that spans over 20 years as a talent acquisition manager and equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) strategist. Throughout her time at the organisation, which has over 500 employees and represents the rights of over 165,000 songwriters, composers and music publirs, Thompson has spearheaded PRS for Music’s progression around its EDIB commitments.
Under Jay-T’s leadership and with the full support of the organisation, PRS for Music has implemented a holistic diversity strategy and installed a variety of policies, tools and processes that support its EDIB commitments in tangible ways that can drive and sustain change. Examples include removing traditional barriers to entry in the recruitment process and internal progression; reverse mentoring programmes and knowledge exchanges; launching an allyship toolkit to empower individuals to speak up for themselves or others; and becoming a Disability Confident Employer. In its latest Pay Gap Report, the organisation has seen an increase in the proportion of women in senior roles and evidence that it is reducing its ethnic pay mean and median gap. As a representative on the lobbying body UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce, PRS for Music and Jay-T are also helping to shift the dial on diversity at every level across the music industry.
Janeace (Jay-T) Thompson, Director of Talent, Culture and Experience, PRS for Music, said: “I am beyond grateful to have been recognised for my commitment to the important work we are accomplishing at PRS for Music. It is an honour to be considered for this award but more than anything, I hope that the work I do will continue to have a positive impact on the lives of the people who work for the organisation, and in turn, our songwriter, composer, and music publir members. I couldn’t have delivered so much without the support, dedication and loyalty of my incredible team, this nomination is as much for them as it is for me.”
Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock and radio and television personalities Roman Kemp, Adele Roberts and Sam Thompson, have also been shortlisted for their dedication to campaigning and raising awareness in the media on EDIB issues they are passionate about.