IN a major Equality, Diversity and Inclusion study, Britain’s largest companies were found to have made some progress but still needed to do more on sexual orientation, race, and disability.
The annual McKenzie-Delis Review has taken steps toward improving EDI. However, Only one-quarter of businesses have an LGBTQ+ presence on their leadership team, two-fifths have no ethnic minority representation at all and only one in three firms is actively promoting hiring disabled staff.
Leila McKenzie-Delis, CEO of D&I accelerator DIAL Global and Founder of the McKenzie-Delis Foundation, a charity committed to driving research and insight into workplace equality, said, “This year’s review showed some very encouraging aspects, and that UK plc is making progress, which we welcome. But when you break down each of the ten facets, it’s clear that there is still a long way to go. Firms are beginning to see that tracking and measuring D&I seriously, as they do every other aspect of their business, is imperative to ensuring strong business performance. Additionally, it means they will see their reputation among current and prospective employees, customers and shareholders improve.”
Bina Mehta, Co-chair of the McKenzie-Delis Review, and Chair of KPMG in the UK expressed, “Organisations that place inclusion, diversity and equity at the heart of their business strategy have a competitive advantage. They benefit from fresh thinking and different perspectives, which ultimately translates into better business outcomes – it’s good for business and it’s good for society.”
“The McKenzie-Delis Review takes a much-needed holistic approach to inclusion, diversity, and equity, placing a spotlight on the many facets of diversity – not just gender or ethnicity. The collection of quality workforce data may reveal uncomfortable truths but it’s the critical first step toward turning the dial on diversity. It’s only by embracing the uniqueness which comes from experience and background that open and inclusive cultures can truly become a reality”, she added.
This year, the McKenzie-Delis annual review is done in partnership with IPSOS (a market research company conducting interviews with a representative group of the population via telephone calls, and face-to-face and internet surveys), supported by strategic partner KPMG.
It examines ten aspects of organizational diversity and inclusion (D&I) in addition to gender and ethnicity, assisting businesses in judging sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, nationality, socioeconomic status, well-being, and parenthood.
The key findings say the representation of ethnic minorities in senior leadership positions remains low, and businesses are still working to increase the representation of ones with disabilities.
This year’s McKenzie-Delis Review attracted 89 businesses making it the largest of its kind. Participants included Unilever, Diageo, Royal Mail, Boots, Co-op, Page Group, Marks & Spencer, Jaguar Land Rover, Network Rail, Britvic, O2 Virgin, Superdrug, Tate & Lyle, and The FA.
McKenzie-Delis Review was first launched in 2020, sheds light on various challenges that businesses face post-pandemic.
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