Section head

Forgotten your password?
Not registered?

HMRC - Bernadette Kenny


Outline 

This case study examines the work of Bernadette Kenny who is the Director General for Personal Tax at H.M. Revenue & Customs and also the organisation’s gender champion. Bernadette has responsibility for over 35,000 people and is one of the organisation’s most senior women. As gender champion Bernadette provides visible leadership commitment to equality and diversity. She helps to articulate the business case and ensures that it is understood and acted upon at the highest levels of the business. H.M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC) commends her for her commitment, enthusiasm and personal passion for the subject.

The organisation believes she has been instrumental in positioning gender diversity as a people management and service delivery issue. She has instigated many new initiatives which have  benefitted women. Under her direction a senior women’s network has been developed and launched. An innovative customer outreach programme has been designed to target some of HMRC’s most vulnerable customers (low paid, single parents) by meeting them in baby clinics and events in Lidl and  Morrison’s supermarkets. She is also a moving force behind the In and Out of Work project, of which women returning to work are a major beneficiary. Women now need only give the details of their return to work to one government department office in one simple document and all their benefit, tax and employment issues are dealt with, making the transition to work easier and less stressful.

 

 

Objectives

Bernadette’s priorities have included securing more resources in terms of money, people and influence to ensure that the gender agenda is driven forward. She is keen to raise the profile of diversity issues at the most senior levels and throughout the whole organisation. A further priority has been to identify the barriers to women’s progression and ensure that practical steps are taken to address these. She believes it is important to ensure that diversity is not just considered a women’s issue, but rather it is seen through a lens of service delivery and positioned as a tool to create a better organisation for staff and customers.

Action

 One of her strengths in delivering against these objectives is the way she has encouraged a wide group of people to become involved in gender related issues. She has encouraged men to join the senior women’s group and commissioned research from junior staff. HMRC commends the way she has taken every available opportunity to interact with staff at all levels, to understand the issues that are of concern to them. She has created and financed a full-time post to support the gender staff network. The senior women’s network which she created to help nurture talent now has 470 members and has inspired the development of local network groups.

Bernadette Kenny photo

HM Revenue & Customs

Champion: Bernadette Kenny, Director General, Personal Tax

Contact: Diane Wailes, Senior Diversity Manager

Email: diane.wailes@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

 

Impact
  • Bernadette’s focus on inclusivity has ensured that it is understood to be a key customer service issue and something that is relevant to all staff.
  • By showing that an enlightened approach to diversity can improve the working lives of both men and women she has significantly moved forward the diversity debate.
  • Bernadette has committed at least two days a month to meeting staff and learning first hand about their work and issues, this means she is accessible to all staff and a very visible role model across the organisation.