Owning Inclusion: How Hilti GB Is Turning DEI Into Everyday Culture

Written by the Hilti GB / Northern Europe employer brand team – sharing real stories and insights into life, culture and careers at Hilti.

 

At Hilti, our people vision is being a great employer for everyone, everywhere. But what does that promise look like in practice – on construction sites, in offices, in warehouses, in repair workshops and across a region as diverse as Northern Europe?

To understand how this vision comes to life, we sat down with Kim Kerr, Head of People Experience and the driving force behind our regional diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy. Her journey, insights, and honesty reveal a simple truth: inclusion isn’t a project. It’s culture. And culture is created by all of us, every day.

 

From business partnering to belonging: Kim’s DEI journey

Kim joined Hilti in 2015 at a time when DEI initiatives existed was already part of the conversation but not yet supported by dedicated roles or resources. Responsibility sat alongside broader remits, which made it harder to build sustained momentum. To make real progress, something had to change.

Within six months of taking on DEI as part of her HR business partnering mandate in 2024, Kim recognised it that the work needed more dedicated focus. She set out to reposition DEI from something perceived as a side project to a catalyst for shaping culture and enabling people to thrive.

“The big lightbulb moment for me was seeing that DEI isn’t separate from culture. DEI is culture.”

That connection unlocked a passion she hadn’t expected. Employee engagement had always been her favourite part of the job – but DEI was the missing piece that made the full picture make sense.

What makes Hilti’s approach unique?

The construction industry hasn’t historically been known for diversity. Hilti wants to change that – intentionally and sustainably.

Our uniqueness lies in our ambition:

Being a great employer for everyone, everywhere is not just a slogan. It’s a commitment.

This commitment means adapting how Hilti works, serves, leads, and listens, so every person feels they belong, is able to contribute fully, and has the opportunity to build a long-term career with us.

 

Clearing Up the misconceptions

Kim is honest: DEI has a reputation problem externally. Some people see it as exclusionary or “not for them.” She hears this often.

But inclusion, she argues, is the opposite of exclusive.

We want everyone who comes to Hilti to feel they fit in, feel they belong, and feel they can give their best. DEI is for everyone.

The Hilti approach isn’t about dividing people. It’s about connecting them.

Making inclusion practical: from psychological safety to policy change

One reason DEI feels integrated at Hilti is that it shows up in practical topics that help everyone:

• Psychological safety training for all leaders
• Clear behavioural expectations from all – treating everyone with respect, fairness and consideration
• Inclusive leadership tools
• Training modules focused on diversity of thought
• Awareness campaigns for topics such as harassment

These aren’t abstract concepts – they’re habits, mindsets, and conversations that make a real difference in teams.

 

OwnIt!: When inclusion comes from our people

Many organisations have employee resource groups. At Hilti, we call them OwnIt! groups – because they are truly owned by team members who want to create impact.

Kim works closely with these groups, not to lead them, but to empower them. This is why the OwnIt! community exists:

• To give people space to explore identity, culture, and shared experiences
• To amplify lived experiences leaders may not have
• To champion awareness and influence policy
• To offer reverse mentoring to leadership
• To make inclusion something colleagues build together – not something “delivered” to them

And the impact is real.

One example Kim is particularly proud of:

Hilti’s Gender OwnIt! group helped identify a practical challenge for colleagues working in the field: accessing period products on construction sites and while travelling between customer visits. Together, they developed a simple but meaningful solution:

• Free period product dispensers at every physical Hilti GB location
• Emergency period product packs for field-based team members

What began as a trial quickly became a permanent company practice – a simple idea with meaningful impact, shaped lived experience.

 

How do we measure inclusion?

With half our workforce working in the field, traditional engagement activities don’t reach everyone equally. So how do we know if our DEI initiatives are working?

Kim focuses on our employee engagement and feedback surveys, specifically the inclusion index. Hilti consistently reaches the top quartile benchmark of global employers – but the ambition doesn’t stop there. The goal is to keep raising the bar and move beyond top quartile.

Other measures include:

• Psychological safety scores
• Diversity-of-thought indicators
• Story-based reflections shared privately in leadership training

One recurring theme? When psychological safety training lands well, leaders start recognising their own behaviours – sometimes for the first time.

 

The hardest part of leading DEI

Kim doesn’t sugarcoat the challenge:

“Culture and DEI are deep, broad, and complex. And I’m one person for the region.”

Whether it’s prioritising topics, finding capacity, or navigating sensitive conversations, the work can feel overwhelming. That’s why collaboration – with colleagues globally, OwnIt! groups, and leadership team – is essential.

 

What’s next for Hilti’s culture?

Looking ahead, Kim hopes to see:

• Greater shared responsibility for DEI
• Continued progress on the topics we commit to
• A culture where every colleague truly feels part of the journey
• Steady steps toward becoming not just a good employer, but a great one

And if she had to sum up Hilti’s culture in just three words?

Caring. Fair. High‑performing.

Three words that capture both who we are today – and who we’re working to become.

If an environment like this is important to you, explore current opportunities and discover where a career at Hilti could take you.