7 tips for building your equality, diversity and inclusion strategy

In today’s competitive marketplace, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are essential for a thriving workplace. Embracing EDI can drive innovation, improve employee satisfaction, and boost your company’s reputation. Here are our 7 top tips to building your EDI strategy:

1. Encourage leadership commitment
Change must start from the top. When executives and managers actively support diversity and inclusion, it influences the entire organisation. This can be done through regular communication, visible actions, and involvement in EDI initiatives. Leaders should be accountable for EDI outcomes, tracked with specific metrics and objectives.

2. Provide employee training
Educate employees about the importance of diversity and inclusion. Training should cover topics like unconscious bias and inclusive leadership. Regular training can reduce discrimination claims and prepare for new legal obligations. One new positive legal obligation to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace takes effect in October 2024, and training will be a key element of compliance.

3. Review recruitment practices
Examine and improve your recruitment and hiring practices to build a diverse workforce. Ensure job adverts are free from biased language and use diverse outlets for advertising. Consider blind recruitment techniques and establish diverse hiring panels to reduce bias.

4. Foster an inclusive workplace culture
Creating an inclusive culture means making all employees feel valued and respected. Encourage open dialogue about EDI issues and create safe spaces for employees to share their experiences and concerns.

5. Encourage diverse perspectives in decision-making
Involve employees from diverse backgrounds in decision-making processes. Diverse teams bring different perspectives, leading to more innovative solutions. Use diverse project teams, advisory committees, or inclusive workshops to ensure decisions consider the needs of a wider range of stakeholders.

6. Regularly assess and improve EDI policies
EDI is an ongoing process. Conduct regular assessments through surveys, focus groups, and external audits to identify areas for improvement. Ensure compliance with UK employment laws and regulations. This includes the Equality Act 2010, which protects employees from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. Regularly review your policies and procedures to ensure compliance and seek legal advice if needed.

7. Communicate your EDI commitment externally
Share your EDI efforts and achievements with external audiences to enhance your company’s reputation. Use your website, social media, and other channels to highlight your commitment to EDI and showcase diverse voices within your organisation.

Embracing equality, diversity, and inclusion can unlock significant benefits for your business. By implementing these strategies, you can create a workplace that attracts top talent, drives innovation, and fosters long-term success.

For advice on creating an effective equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, email us at [email protected] or call us on 020 7377 2829.