Promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is a key issue for many companies, being widely recognized as enhancing both corporate value and the working lives of employees. NSG Group had been firmly committed to further improve its own I&D, embracing the internally and externally declared Statement of Intent and one of our Core Values, "Respect Others and Unleash their Potential". In June 2023, NSG Group has announced that we formulated the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Policy that develops and evolves Equality into Equity to enhance and accelerate the Group's current State of Intent to promote Inclusion & Diversity.

1. Our effort

NSG Group established a Global DEI Steering Committee with the aim of enhancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion across the entire group. The Committee comprises 20 members, covering all business units, functions, and regions. It works with individual businesses to identify and implement local, regional, and global initiatives, identifying areas for improvement and measuring progress. One central focus is to move DEI beyond the Human Resources department and establish it within all thinking.

2. Taking action

In line with the annual Group and Regional DEI Action Plans, each country or site is implementing their own actions. One of the annual implementations at site level is to celebrate International Women's Day through various local events.

Another strategic implementation at Group level is the provision of Unconscious Bias Training to all managers across the Group. Unconscious bias occurs as our brains filter information, categorizing people and situations, in order to make quick decisions. Everyone has unconscious bias that is a result of their own cultural environment and accumulated life experiences. Unconscious bias is far more prevalent than conscious prejudice and is often incompatible with our conscious values. All managers across NSG Group undertake online training to learn what unconscious bias is, how to recognize it in themselves and in others, and how to mitigate the potential impacts.

Examples of diversity days which were celebrated and recognized were days such as International Women's Day and International Day of People with Disabilities. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion objectives have also been set for our Senior Leaders and various countries have also set up their own Diversity, Equity & Inclusion country committees.

3. Promotion of Female Career Advancement

NSG Group supports our female career development through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs. We were certified as Platinum Kurumin Certification by Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2019 as we achieved high standards of the targets for our employees to satisfy both their career and childcare.

Examples of improvements include: greater visibility for females in succession planning discussion, identifying and confirming the positions to which female managers can be positioned, and encouraging more paternity leave. Online workshops have been regularly held for female managers to improve their networking and career planning opportunities, which in turn have helped with career motivation for participants.

We also introduced an exchange program with Sumitomo Group female members. During an online career seminar in 2021, attended by several companies in the Sumitomo Group, participants explored opportunities to discuss their own leadership style and consider future career options. Their experiences were shared within the Company and contributed to our female career advancement.

The group is promoting the appointment of female managers to achieve our Medium Term Plan - RP24 goal "Corporate Culture Reform".

● Female managers in NSG Group

• 12.7% as of 2021 June 30
• FY24/3 target: female manager increase at least 1% in each SBU and Function

4. Promotion of Foreign and Mid-career Employees

We operate as an integrated international Group, with a multinational management team. We believe that our diverse workforce with its range of nationalities, skills, qualifications and experience is a substantial benefit to our business. Our management style is to put the best person in each job, regardless of nationality or region. Our overseas subsidiaries are managed by local Leadership teams.

● Foreign Senior Managers in the Group

• 2022 March 31 : 78.2%
• 2023 March 31 : 78.6%

NSG Group has diverse workforce with its range of skills, qualifications, and experience in the world. We are promoting the mid-career employment in Japan to satisfy the skills and careers required by our businesses and functions.

● New Employment in Nippon Sheet Glass

• FY2022/3 : 11 new graduates and 26 mid careers
• FY2023/3 : 5   new graduates and 49 mid careers