Over 1000 organisations to take part in Race Equality Week 2021
Over 1000 organisations have signed up to take part in the UK’s first ever Race Equality Week, from 1st - 7th of February 2021, a UK-wide initiative, initiated by community interest company Race Equality Matters. Race Equality Week will unite hundreds of organisations and individuals in activity to address the barriers facing race equality in the workplace. Participants are encouraged to take part in one or more of three key initiatives, including a Virtual Badge Campaign, a public commitment to change; The Big Promise, or a facilitated discussion between ethnic minority employees and the board, Safe Space.
Race Equality Matters was formed in response to 2020’s Black Lives Matter and the collectively heightened consciousness of the systemic racism, inequality and injustice experienced by ethnic minority people in the UK. The mission of the movement is to turn talk into action through an impact driven movement of collaborating companies, organisations, race networks, experts in the field, allies and employees.
Race Equality Matters will support organisations with:
- Participants resource pack: Promotional materials; PR & Comms messaging and top tips.
- Webinars and ‘How to’ workshops for initiatives (pin badge campaign, Safe Space and the BIG Promise).
- A network to exchange of ideas and support with other organisations
'Progress on race equality is too slow'
Lopa Patel MBE, Chair of Diversity UK said, “Diversity UK is pleased to be a founding partner of the Race Equality Matters because progress on improving race representation at all levels in corporate life, civil society and the public sector in Britain has been too slow. This has been evidenced by numerous research reports and Government led reviews and is now indisputable.
The lack of equality has impacted the life chances of increasing numbers of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals in all areas; from housing, schooling, justice and healthcare, to the workplace. Inequality manifests itself everywhere; from the shop floor to the boardroom; in pay and conditions to employment and life chances.
We all need to work towards building back the trust and support of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised to ensure that Britain is the progressive society we all want it to be and Race Equality Matters is the ideal flag bearer for this progress”.
We urge Diversity UK members to champion this initiative within their companies and organisations. It is only by working collaboratively together and learning from each other, that we can achieve real progress on race equality."
The Colour of Power 2020
Green Park’s The Colour of Power 2020, a visual depiction of the upper echelons of the UK’s most powerful institutions, highlights not only the lack of diversity and disparity of power in the UK’s most senior leadership roles, but the total failure to address it despite three years of government-backed targets and ample rhetoric about commitments to diversity & inclusion.
Just 52 out of the 1099 most powerful roles in the country are filled by non-white individuals, or 4.7% of the total number compared to the 13% proportion of the UK population. This is a gain of only 15 additional ethnic minority held roles since the Colour of Power 2017 index. Black individuals are particularly under-represented with just 17 of the 1099 roles held by Black men and women, despite organisations across Britain and the world declaring their commitment to improving equality and diversity, in the light of the Black Lives Matter movement.
'One third of FTSE 100 companies have no ethnic minority board members'
Raj Tulsiani, Co-founder of Race Equality Matters and CEO of Green Park, says: “As the pandemic continues to disrupt ‘business as usual,’ many people are entering the new year longing for things to go back to normal. Our message is simple: let’s not go back to normal. Normal is not good enough.”
Normal is 75% of ethnic minorities experiencing racism in the workplace, a third of FTSE 100 companies having no ethnic minority board members and graduates from minority backgrounds being twice as likely to be unemployed. We have a unique opportunity now for real change so anyone who believes that race equality matters should be taking action.”
Co-Founded by executive search and diversity consultancy Green Park and social innovation consultancy The Collaboratory Race Equality Matters is continuing to attract high profile supporters, with Diversity UK among a number of D&I championing firms to partner with the initiative. These include: BT, Data & Marketing Association, AggioSergeant, Flair, Edelman, Diversity UK, the governance forum, Mental Health First Aid England, #Talkaboutblack, & The Diversity Digest.
For more information or to register and download the participation pack, visit raceequalitymatters.com.
