Diversity and Inclusion: Why it matters

Diversity and inclusion are hugely important principles in today’s professional landscape, they form a blueprint that seeks to right injustices that have historically compromised hiring processes, promotions, and company culture within the corporate world.

When we use the term “diversity”, we mean understanding, accepting, and supporting everything that makes us all unique and different to each other, and when we use “Inclusion” or “inclusivity”, we mean overcoming subconcious bias to make each other feel part of something bigger, together, regardless of what makes us different. Following these principles goes a long way towards creating fairer and more equitable working environments, and helps companies land the best talent and thrive.

 After all, high-quality skillsets and professional experience and expertise are found within each and every ethnic and socio-cultural background, and diverse talent wants to see a diverse workplace too!

A case in point – Black history month

The contributions that people of African descent have made to the fields of science, art, sports, business, literature, entertainment and so many more, directly demonstrates the value of talent, no matter colour, creed, belief or challenge, and the importance of welcoming and including people from varied backgrounds into professional spaces.

So, in honour of Black history month, we would like to explore the principles of diversity & inclusion, why they matter, and MBA’s ongoing commitment to upholding them.

 So, what are UK Companies doing about it?

In recent years, the managerial bodies of UK companies have become increasingly receptive towards the needs of employees from beyond majority ethnic, religious, and gender groups. A big move towards greater diversity and inclusion in UK workplaces came in 2018, when tech giant Google sought to install inclusive bathrooms in its UK office, and many other companies have since followed suit. Companies are also making efforts to ensure potential recruits are interviewed by boards that speak to their diverse backgrounds, along with sensitising their employees to the kind of language and interpersonal behaviour that makes people feel safe, heard, and included.

However, we are still aware of the inherent biases in recruitment and we are continually reflecting inwards to our own business to ensure we do whatever it takes to overcome these biases. We follow the same protocal for the clients we work with to ensure that merit based recruitment is at the heart of everything we do.

 
While UK companies have made great strides in their adherence to the principles of diversity & inclusion, there is still ground left to cover. For example, Druthers, who empower companies to be more diverse, revealed in their 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Workplace Statistics report that, as of yet, the employment rate for ethnic minorities in the UK currently sits at 62.8%. 

 Despite such challenges, the road ahead is bright: The Minister of State for Equalities recommended several actions to the British Parliament in a 2022 policy paper that included steps towards further improving the diversity and inclusivity of UK workplaces. These are as follows:

• Creating an ‘Inclusion at Work Panel’, spearheaded by the Equality Hub that will undertake programmes meant to promote fairness and effective leadership.
• Empowering employers and industry sectors to create opportunities for underrepresented groups.
• Using evidence from the ‘Inclusion at Work Panel’ to improve race equality and progression in the workplace.

With a state apparatus that is receptive to the pressing need for greater equality across all modes of life, we can expect great things soon with regard to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Conclusion

Diversity & inclusion are important principles that define today’s professional zeitgeist. Adhering to them helps marginalised groups contribute equally, and allows for greater talent to make its way into the workplace. While UK companies have taken admirable steps in accordance with these values, there is more work to be done to create a truly fair professional landscape in the UK

Get in touch with us here to find out more about our sustained commitment to making MBA a welcoming space for folks from all backgrounds, and promoting a diverse talent pool filled with invaluable cultural history and lived experience.