How do you make diversity and inclusion the norm within your resourcing practice?

How do you make diversity and inclusion the norm?

We are hosting our third diversity roundtable in London this March, focusing on one of today’s most challenging questions for hiring managers: how do you make diversity and inclusion the norm within your resourcing practice?

Diversity is a critical issue across industries, and it’s particularly prevalent within the engineering and technology industries. In 2015, the Royal Academy of Engineering reported that 94% of the engineering workforce is white and 92% is male. Gender diversity in technology doesn’t fare much better, with females accounting for only 17% of the technology workforce according to the Chartered Institute for IT. A range of initiatives run by Governments, industry bodies, and non-profits aim to tackle outdated perceptions on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) careers that can discourage people to enter these sectors. For instance, the UK government has initiated a 12 month campaign called The Year of Engineering to encourage young people of all backgrounds to consider engineering careers, and in technology, non-profits like Girls in Tech focus on helping women advance their careers in STEM fields. But more needs to be done as Huw Jones, Client Relationship Director at Gattaca, explains:

“Within the Engineering industry, we need to re-think how we promote engineering as a career; focusing on the creative side, the search for new ideas, and solving real world problems to appeal to women and the younger generation. We must share real stories of engineers making the world a better place to live to showcase to young people how, as an engineer, you can really make a difference.”

The event, which is being hosted at Transport for London’s Stratford office, will involve a presentation from Rebecca Foden, Senior Recruitment Manager at Transport for London (TfL), and her team, on TfL’s ‘SMART Sourcing’ programme, which has seen an increase in diversity by recruiting ex-service men and women. They’ll showcase a number of TfL’s award-winning diversity and inclusion initiatives and discuss the progress and challenges associated with effecting a real change in culture.

Lindsey Agness, expert culture change practitioner at leading diversity advisory, BrightWorks, will also be sharing her insight into how organisations have successfully shifted changes in practices and embedded sustainable culture change:

“The challenge many organisations face is how they make a real culture change – how they move ideas, projects and initiatives into the normal way of doing things and shift hiring manager attitudes and approach towards hiring talent.”

In addition to the discussion surrounding diversity, inclusion must also be addressed as a problem within the technology and engineering industries. For instance, the Royal Academy of Engineering reported that people with disabilities currently make up less than 5% of the engineering workforce. Recent statistics from the UK government show that around 37% of people with disabilities believe employers won’t hire them because of their disability, so it’s clear that resourcing practices need to change.

The free roundtable event will give eventgoers an opportunity to learn, share ideas, and reflect on how businesses can make diversity and inclusion the norm.

Event details:

Date: 1 March 2018
Time: 09:00 – 13:00

Location: Transport for London, G4 Endeavour Square, 5 Endeavour Square, Stratford, London, E20 1JN

If you’re interested in attending the event or finding out more, please contact Huw Jones. Please be aware that spaces are limited so we recommend registering your interest sooner rather than later to avoid missing out.
Find out more about Gattaca’s diversity consultancy service here.

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