City of London Lord Mayor launches Power of Diversity programme

Fiona Wolff, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, today (7th January 2014) launched the ‘Power of Diversity’ programme at Guildhall Yard in the Square Mile. The initiative aims to improve diversity among leading organisations in the City. CEOs and senior representatives of the 34 companies are sponsoring the Lord Mayor’s programme which comprises a series of breakfast lectures, seminars and conferences at major London venues like the South Bank Centre and the Mansion House.

The Lord Mayor’s Power of Diversity events during the course of the year are designed to share best practice and experience amongst senior and mid-level managers across City organisations in a collaborative effort to improve people management and widen the UK business talent pool.

This year, for only the second time since 1189, the Lord Mayor is a woman. A leading global spokesperson for UK financial services, Lord Mayor Woolf is determined to focus on the practical steps that the City can take to harness the benefits of diversity in the talent pool on which it depends, to sustain its success and create and a genuinely inclusive city. Only then will statistics on diversity better reflect modern society.

Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf, said: “The world has changed since I became the first female partner at my law firm CMS 30 years ago. But it has not changed fast enough, and we need to challenge traditional thinking and make sure far fewer women and people from diverse backgrounds get left behind.”

“There has always been a moral case for inclusion, but now, there is a clear business case. London will lose out if it does not capture the benefits of diversity – fresh perspectives, originality and innovation – by enabling talented individuals to get to the top. This change will not happen overnight but we need to ensure that businesses employ a true meritocracy, so that the best succeed, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or nationality.”

The 34 major City firms involved in the programme are Arup, Baker & McKenzie, Bechtel, BNY Mellon, Bouygues, Capital Group, Catlin, CBRE, CIPD, CMS, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Eversheds, Harvey Nash, Hogan Lovells, HSBC, ISS (Facility Service Ltd), Lloyds Banking Group, Lloyd’s of London Market Place, Lucas Fettes, Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, National Grid, Newton Investment Management, Nomura, Odgers Berndtson, Pret, PwC, RBS, Reed Smith, State Street, Sthree, Thomson Reuters, TFL, Willis.

For further information about the City of London Corporation visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk