Conference Series: Diversity & Inclusion

Live session

The impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having – and will continue to have – is likely to play out very differently across different groups. Not only is it disproportionately impacting BAME communities and women but it’s also exposed and exacerbated long-standing inequalities that our society has. The risk that progress on D&I could slow or go backwards, is real. But evidence shows that focusing on D&I helps firms recover from a crisis more quickly. This conference and introductory session will explore these challenges and help leaders to act within their organisations in the economic recovery. It will also reflect on the D&I agenda for the government in the future.

Speakers to be announced soon.

On-demand content

Discover how four companies are tackling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diversity and inclusion.

Speakers to be announced soon.

Live session

The pandemic has impacted different strands of diversity in different ways. It has exacerbated existing inequalities for groups such as women and people from ethnic minorities. But on the other hand, employers have built more empathy for personal circumstances of their employees such as caring responsibilities, health considerations, disabilities, and mental health. What are the learnings and longer-term implications of the pandemic on D&I in the workplace? How do we ensure that we get underrepresented talent into work in the future?

Speakers to be announced soon.

On-demand content

As we know from the financial crisis in 2008-9, there is a significant danger that the progress made so far on equality is wiped out. This year we have seen the return of all-male boards in the FTSE 350, the suspension of gender pay gap reporting and widespread BLM protest in response to the killing of George Floyd. But if we want to build back better and create a fairer society companies need to re-focus on diversity and inclusion and pay gap reporting is one of the crucial tools to focus minds on action. How can companies double down on pay gap reporting – introducing ethnicity pay gap reporting – in the current context? What more can they do to make real progress? 

Further speakers to be announced soon.

Speakers

• 
  Naeema Choudry Partner, Eversheds
• 
  Sir Philip Hampton Chair, The Hampton-Alexander Review 
• 
  Rain Newton-Smith Chief Economist, CBI

Live session

Looking at the importance of having a diverse team creating the software to ensure AI algorithms don’t have an underlying bias, which in turn will lead to better diversity for businesses when AI is used in areas such as recruitment.

Speakers to be announced soon.

Live session

The killing of George Floyd and the global Black Lives Matter protests have shone a harsh light on the prevalence of racism and racial injustices abroad and in the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated existing inequalities with BAME communities being hit hardest. Businesses have a crucial role to play when it comes to stamping out existing biases and racism in the workplace and many are already taking action. So what is it that businesses can do to get better in speaking about race in the workplace, recruit, retain and promote more BAME talent? And why is it important to invest in BAME-led businesses and supplier diversity?

Further speakers to be announced soon.

Speakers

• 
  Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL President, CBI

On-demand content

This year has shown how flexible working has helped businesses continue to operate with large numbers of the workforce working remotely. Many roles that were perceived as only office-based have been successfully translated into flexible working. CIPD research shows that employers expect that the proportion of people working from home on a regular basis once the crisis is over will increase to 37% compared to 18% before the pandemic. But what are the opportunities and implications for employers and employees if a big part of the workforce continues to use a high level of flexible working/remote working in the future? And what does it mean for team dynamics, management practices, and assessment and promotion of employees?

Speakers to be announced soon.

Live session

A vast majority of people in the UK do not want to go back to how things were before the pandemic. They want fairer, more diverse, and inclusive workplaces. At the core, this is about equality of opportunity – regardless of protected characteristic, the school a person has gone to or someone’s social background. This is an opportunity for businesses to rethink how they can support more social mobility in society. What are companies doing currently and how can they do more to make society fairer and more equal in opportunity?

Speakers to be announced soon.

On-demand content

Inclusive policies can only take us so far – the next step for D&I is a workforce with a sense of belonging. So how do you instill this in your organisation – especially now when a big part of the workforce is working flexibly and remotely? In this session, two pairs of interviewees will explore their ideas for creating a culture of belonging and will share the challenges they have faced and are facing in the future.

Furthers speakers to be announced soon.

Speakers

• 
  Lewis Iwu CEO and Co-Founder, Purpose Union

Live session

Mental health has become one of the biggest concerns for employers this year with a big part of the workforce working from home on a permanent basis, juggling childcare, people being put on furlough, and the dividing lines between work and life fading. It is more important now than ever that employers can provide the right support. How can employers provide the right level of support in such a challenging time, while also taking care of themselves? What have companies learned from the mental health in a crisis approach that they will be taking forward?

Speakers to be announced soon.