We’re exceptionally proud of the talented people at WPP – they are the key to our creativity. That’s why we put bold initiatives in place to attract, engage and develop the best in the industry.

Creativity thrives in a diverse culture. So we make it our business to encourage and inspire a diversity of talent throughout WPP. We embrace all types of creative talent, building strong teams and strengthening our relationships with our clients.

By investing in fulfilling careers, diverse leadership and innovative technology, we invest in our ongoing creative success.

Our focus areas

• Becoming the employer of choice for all, fostering an inclusive culture that is equitable and respectful of diverse thoughts and individual expression
• Attracting, retaining and growing the most talented, creative and inspired people on the planet
• We aim to create a work experience based on our values, where people are open to new ideas; optimistic about the future; and empowered to do extraordinary work
• Investing in skills and creating opportunities for our people to collaborate, learn, develop and grow
• Offering attractive compensation and working practices
• Engaging with and listening to our people
• Supporting our people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing

How are we doing?

• 40% women in executive leadership (2021: 39%)
• 54% women in senior management (2021: 52%)
• 22% of senior and executive managers in the US (our largest market), are non-white
• Industry Leader in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
• 5,900 average attendance at CEO virtual townhalls, part of a series of channels to connect with our people, and 1.8 million unique opens of CEO all-staff emails
• 550+ mental health allies across the UK, US and Singapore encouraging open conversations about mental health in the workplace
• 100% of employees have access to our Employee Assistance Programme with free confidential counselling and support, as well as resources on topics such as managing stress, dealing with loss and referrals to local financial or legal help

We support urgent action to tackle the climate crisis through the Paris Climate Agreement. WPP is a proud signatory to the UN Global Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C, the purpose of which is to galvanise business support for strong climate action, and to the UNFCCC’s Race to Zero campaign.

Our near-term science-based targets aim to reduce our emissions in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. By 2025, the majority of our people will work in net zero campuses powered by renewable electricity.

Collaboration with clients and suppliers is critical to delivering against our own targets and promoting low-carbon and regenerative living at the scale needed to address the climate crisis.

Our Green Claims Guide, supported by training, helps equip our people with principles and practical tips for making effective environmental claims and avoiding misleading the public.

Our focus areas

• Reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and absolute Scope 3 emissions – including media buying – by 50% by 2030, both from a 2019 base year
• Achieving net zero in our own operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2025 and across our supply chain (Scope 3) by 2030, including emissions from media buying – an industry first
• Sourcing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025
• Reducing waste and improving resource efficiency
• Phasing out single-use plastics that cannot be reused, recycled or composted across our offices
• Working with clients to stimulate action on climate change and the environment

How are we doing?

• 0.22 tonnes CO2e emissions per person from owned operations (Scope 1 and 2), a 32% reduction year-on-year and 73% reduction since our 2019 baseline (2021: 0.32 tCO2e)
• 28% absolute reduction in tonnes CO2e (Scope 1 and 2) year-on-year and 71% since our 2019 baseline
• 83% of electricity bought from renewable sources (2021: 74%)
• $10bn coalition of leading advertisers – worth $10 billion in global advertising investment – to accelerate decarbonisation of the world’s media supply chain
• A- CDP climate change score maintained for the second year in a row

The work we do for our clients reaches billions of people each year, presenting our greatest opportunity to create positive change.

From strategy and consulting to delivery and flawless execution, we continue to strengthen our offer to ensure we provide clients with the support and expertise they need to deliver against their own sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

How we communicate with people depends upon how they define themselves. To be relevant to today’s communities and to build meaningful connections with consumers, marketing must be inclusive, intersectional and intentional.

Our work has the power to bring about change – it regularly changes attitudes, opinions and the way people behave. As it is critical that these changes are for the better, we are committed to acting ethically in all aspects of our business, and to maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

Our focus areas

• Supporting clients to create brands with purpose and impact, and integrating sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion into our work
• Driving behavioural change at scale to deliver real impact by combining the latest technology alongside creativity and sustainability expertise
• Upholding rigorous standards of honesty and integrity in our work for clients

How are we doing?

• Green Claims Guide and training launched to equip our people to make effective green claims that are not misleading in any way
• Revised Assignment Acceptance Policy & Framework established to help our agencies review new client work
• 8.2 out of 10 Likelihood to Recommend score for diversity, equity and inclusion from our clients in 2022
• Sustainability Playbook updated, showcasing the diversity of our sustainability capability and innovative work

We aim to use the power of our creativity and voice to support healthy and vibrant communities.

And we know our people want to work for a company that’s willing to stand up for the issues they care about.

We can help amplify the impact of charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)by providing marketing and creative services, often on a pro bono basis (for little or no fee).

This work is mutually rewarding: it is often worth more than an equivalent cash donation for the beneficiary, helping to increase donations, recruit members, change behaviour and achieve campaign goals, while also giving our colleagues the chance to work on fulfilling, impactful and sometimes award-winning campaigns that build their skills and knowledge and raise the profile of our agencies.

Our focus areas

• Encouraging our people to volunteer their time and skills, using their creativity and expertise to support the local causes they are passionate about, covering a range of issues from the arts, to conservation, health and human rights
• Investing $30 million over three years in our Racial Equity Programme, which aims to advance racial equity for our people and in communities
• Negotiating free media space for charity campaigns, enabling them to reach a wide audience
• Partnering with the United Nations, including UN Women, to provide our skills in creativity, communications, data and technology to help effect positive change for society

How are we doing?

• $16.2m committed to inclusion programmes since 2020 as part of our commitment to invest $30m over three years in programmes to advance racial equity (excludes 2022 investment)
• $670,000 generously donated by 4,000+ employees to Ukraine emergency appeal, matched by WPP to bring the total to $1.34 million
• £35.5m total social contribution, taking into account cash donations, pro bono work, in kind contributions and free media space (2021: £41.0 million)