We’re celebrating the diversity of our team. Recently, our Bristol office came together for a setec consulting engineers Cultural Day, a chance to bring a little piece of home to work, share stories with colleagues, and learn a bit more about one another.
Why we did it
We have such a diverse team, with colleagues from many different countries and backgrounds, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to celebrate that diversity properly, rather than let it simply sit in the background of day-to-day work. Everyone was invited to bring a little of the best from their country or culture, whether that was traditional food or treats to share, clothing, music, photos, stories, traditions, or simply something that represents home.
There was no pressure to bring anything elaborate. The idea was simply to get together, share experiences, and celebrate the different cultures that make up our team, in a relaxed, informal setting away from the usual working day.
A table full of stories
Across the office, desks and tables filled up with dishes, treats and small pieces of home from around the world. Alongside the food came the stories behind it, why a particular dish matters, what it reminds people of, and the traditions that go with it. For many colleagues, it was as much about the conversations as it was about the food itself, a rare chance to properly hear about each other’s backgrounds rather than simply knowing them in passing.
Reflections from the day
“SCEL Cultural Day is something I will always look forward to, as nothing makes me happier than a plate full of delicious meals from around the world. However, the true highlight of the day was when all of us came together to share stories about our cultures and traditions. For my contribution, I brought Kaju Phool, a flower-shaped Indian sweet made of cashews and sugar, and Samosas, triangular savoury pastries filled with spiced potatoes.” Rohit Arora, HPC N3 Building Lead for SICOS
“The whole experience was amazing. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and share our cultures through traditional dress, food, and stories. I brought chicken tikka rolls, which may not fully represent my culture, but they certainly carried the flavours, aromas, and spices that remind me of home. It was great to learn about different traditions and celebrate the diversity that makes our community so special. A big thank you to everyone who took part, and especially to those who organised and made the event such a success. Your effort and enthusiasm made it a truly memorable celebration.” Tayyaba Rani, Civil/Structural Engineer for Sizewell
“I brought the traditional thing we eat for breakfast in Ukraine, though it’s popular not only in Ukraine but in other countries of Eastern Europe as well. These are small cheesecakes made from simple ingredients, cottage cheese, eggs, flour and sugar, and they go very well served hot with soured cream and jam. I also brought a scarf with a traditional ornamental pattern to use as decoration in the office, and I wore some traditional Ukrainian wooden jewellery to make my look more authentic. I was curious to see what others brought to the office and it was so interesting to explore! Unexpectedly, many of us wore traditional clothes, and that brought extra shine to the day. It was also really nice to hear short stories from our colleagues about their countries, and I think we should definitely keep this as a traditional annual celebration of world cultures. Many thanks for that day and to all who took part in it!” Svitlana Zhyzhyrii, Document Controller
More than just the day itself
Following the Cultural Day, the team continued the celebrations with a social gathering, giving everyone the chance to relax, have a drink, catch up, and enjoy some time together outside the usual working environment. What started as an afternoon of food and stories naturally carried on into the evening, with the same spirit of connection running through both.
Different cultures, one team
Different cultures. One team. That’s what setec consulting engineers is all about. Days like this are a reminder of the strength that comes from bringing so many backgrounds and experiences together under one roof. It’s not just about celebrating where people come from, it’s about what that diversity brings to how the team works, collaborates and supports one another day to day.
We’re already looking forward to the next one.
