(Image: Ian Stratton)
An Amazon employee from Darlington has been recognised for his commitment to supporting Black and ethnic minority communities, both in the workplace and beyond, at the company's annual “That’s BENtastic!” Awards.
Henry Jacob, a reliability maintenance engineering (RME) operator at Amazon’s Darlington site, was nominated for the award by his colleagues for the visible and lasting impact of his work for Black and Ethnic minority colleagues at Amazon and for wider Black communities.
Fatai Sulaiman, president of BEN UK Ops, said: "Five years on, the That’s BENtastic! awards exist to recognise the incredible work Amazon employees like Henry have within Black and Ethnic minority communities, both in the workplace and beyond.
"I’m proud to recognise Henry’s efforts to support those around him with this award.
"He is an incredibly valued member of the Amazon Darlington team, and his work has a real impact on the lives of many people in our community."
As an Amazon Associate Forum Chair, Mr Jacob played a key role in improving representation at the Darlington site.
When he joined the forum, he was the only Black member.
Within a year, several Black associates had become forum representatives across different departments, contributing to a shift from passive inclusion to active representation.
Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise and reward employees who have made a significant contribution to their community over the past 12 months - whether by uplifting others, creating positive change, or having a lasting impact on the people around them.
Mr Jacob was praised for his efforts in supporting Black colleagues within Amazon and for his wider work in the community.
The Black Employee Network (BEN UK & IE) is an employee resource group at Amazon, open to Black employees and allies. Their mission at Amazon is to recruit, retain, and empower Black employees and allies across the business.
BEN UK Ops is a branch of the network specifically for employees in the operational arm of Amazon's business. Through BEN UK Ops, employees have access to resources, networking opportunities and engaging initiatives to support their personal and professional growth.
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Amazon currently supports 13 employee-led groups, which play an important role in bringing Amazon employees from across the business together and creating a sense of community globally while encouraging inclusivity and diversity.
Other groups include Glamazon, Asians at Amazon and Women at Amazon.
These groups play an important role in bringing Amazon employees from across the business together and creating a sense of community globally while encouraging inclusivity and diversity.