Recently the team gathered at the Brighouse office for a Bring Your Own Buffet lunch, an event created to bring colleagues together, celebrate the completion of a major project, and recognise the efforts of everyone across the business. The lunch offered far more than food. It provided a moment for people to connect, talk, and share something personal through the dishes they chose to bring. The afternoon proved to be engaging and gave the entire team a chance to pause and reconnect.

The buffet idea encouraged colleagues to bring dishes with links to their personal backgrounds. This created a table full of choices from a range of cultures and traditions. Projex Solutions is home to people from many different heritages and the event was designed to highlight that richness. This variety reflected the team itself and showed how much strength comes from the mix of people across the company.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is a central part of Projex Solutions and this lunch aimed to bring that ethos to life in a relaxed setting. DEI is not treated as an isolated initiative here. It influences how the business welcomes people, how the leadership team makes decisions, and how colleagues relate to one another day-to-day. A shared lunch served as an informal but meaningful way to recognise the individuality of each person and the contribution they bring to the wider team.

As part of the afternoon, the senior leadership team delivered a business update. This provided an opportunity to reflect on recent progress, acknowledge the efforts of the team, and look ahead to the next phase of work. The combination of food, conversation, and an open update helped strengthen the sense of community within the office.

The timing of the buffet lunch also aligned well with a significant moment for Projex Solutions on the national stage. Towards the end of November, the company was honoured to be named a finalist in the IChemE Global Awards in the category of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. This recognition carries real weight. The IChemE Global Awards bring together organisations from across the world and highlight those who demonstrate strong values and high standards in the chemical and process sectors. Reaching the finalist stage in the DEI category reflects years of work building an inclusive culture, encouraging a broad mix of talent, and making sure colleagues feel welcome, valued, and supported.

For Projex Solutions, becoming a finalist shows that the company is moving in the right direction and that its approach is being acknowledged by respected industry bodies. It also shows colleagues that DEI is not only spoken about internally but recognised externally as a genuine strength.

The Bring Your Own Buffet lunch helped reinforce that message. With a great turnout the office felt lively and engaged throughout the event. People tried different dishes, and used the opportunity to talk to colleagues they rarely get time with. The atmosphere showed what is possible when the team comes together in person. It also demonstrated how simple activities can support a much broader culture of inclusion.

Following the success of this first lunch, the plan is to run similar events going forward. The aim is to keep creating space for people to meet face-to-face, share experiences, and feel connected to each other. At Projex Solutions we believe that these moments play an important part in supporting workplace relationships and encouraging a sense of belonging.