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Creating socially diverse workforces requires investment – but the business benefits are clear, experts say

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Summary

Delegates at a debate hosted by Generation UK were told that businesses should invest in supporting candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds in order to create more socially diverse workforces. The event coincided with the launch of a social impact report which provides skills bootcamps to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, which Michael Houlihan, CEO of Generation UK said was "sobering". It was suggested that businesses should be willing to invest more time and money in diverse candidates, look beyond education and qualifications in job adverts, and provide support and training for new employees. Eunice Olumide added that it is important that diversity is represented at all levels of the organisation, and that developing government-funded training courses can increase accessibility and drive social mobility.

Q&As

What measures can businesses take to increase social diversity in the workplace?
Businesses can offer support to candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, invest in hiring diverse candidates, look more broadly to find and attract diverse talent, and rethink job adverts to make roles more accessible.

What are the business benefits of creating a socially diverse workforce?
The business benefits of creating a socially diverse workforce include enhanced creativity and innovation, increased value, and a better understanding of people and cultures.

How can organisations rethink job adverts to make roles more accessible?
Organisations should look beyond education and qualifications to attract diverse talent, and avoid requiring degrees from candidates in job adverts.

What is the role of skills bootcamps and government-funded courses in increasing accessibility and driving social mobility?
Skills bootcamps and government-funded courses can increase accessibility and drive social mobility by providing skills training to people from diverse backgrounds to get them into employment or upskill their careers.

What advice do experts offer on how to foster inclusivity through personal development?
Experts advise that people professionals should invest in their own development in order to foster inclusivity.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides great insight into how businesses can invest in diversity and social mobility to create a more inclusive workforce.

👎 This article fails to address the systemic issues that prevent access to diverse talent in the first place.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the need for businesses to invest in creating socially diverse workforces, and the clear business benefits of doing so. The article discusses how businesses need to work harder to find and attract diverse talent, and how they need to rethink what they're asking for in job adverts. It also mentions the importance of having diverse people in all levels of the organization.

Friend: That's really interesting. It sounds like businesses need to start taking diversity and inclusion more seriously if they want to benefit from it.

Me: Absolutely. It's not just about hiring diverse candidates, but providing the right support and training to help them thrive in the workplace. It's also important to ensure that diverse people are represented at all levels of the organization to ensure that their perspectives are being heard. It may require some extra investment, but it's worth it for the long-term benefits.

Action items

Research and implement strategies to make job roles more accessible to candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Review job adverts to ensure they are not requiring qualifications that may be prohibitive to candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Invest in training and development for employees from diverse backgrounds to ensure they are represented across all levels of the organisation.

Technical terms

Socioeconomic: Refers to the economic and social status of a person or group, typically based on income, education, and occupation.
Institute of Fiscal Studies: A UK-based think tank that provides independent research and analysis on economic and social policy.
Generation UK: A UK-based organisation that provides skills bootcamps to people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Social Mobility: The ability of individuals or groups to move up or down the social ladder.
Diversity: The inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization, such as those of different races, genders, ages, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations.
CTO: Chief Technology Officer, a senior executive responsible for the development and implementation of technology strategies and initiatives.
Compare the Market: A UK-based price comparison website.
DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a set of practices and policies designed to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
Department for Education: The UK government department responsible for education and children’s services.
CIPD: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a UK-based professional body for HR and people development.