Diversity is now Accessible to all
Question: What do Emma Slater and North Lincolnshire Council have in common?
Answer: Investors in Diversity (they really care about people)
Emma is a sole trader management consultancy and North Lincolnshire Council is a local authority employing over 7,500 staff and is one of the biggest employers in their region. Although both organisations seem very different in terms of size but they have one thing in common and that is they care about people. This is why they have embarked upon their own Investors in Diversity journey.
Investors in diversity at Emma Slater Training – Independent Consultant
Emma Slater, Management Consultant, is clear about the benefits of embracing and managing diversity, that’s why Emma has a more proactive approach than her rivals. Emma comments:
“I have been self employed for five years and conscious that, as a sole trader I should have the same policies and commitment to diversity as any other employer – perhaps even more so as I am the whole company and my continued success depends on my reputation for not only delivering a good service but also understanding the diversity of my clients and their needs”.
“I am passionate about ensuring my training courses and consultancy services are fair and do not discriminate against any delegate or potential delegate. I work hard with my clients to make my services accessible to all and see Investors in Diversity as an important step towards my continuous improvement. I believe that the changes in the IiD accreditation process are a huge benefit to sole traders like myself and working towards Level 1 is an important step for any business that wishes to show a real commitment to Equality and Diversity”.
Investors in Diversity at North Lincolnshire Council – 7,500 staff
Liesel Dickinson, Diversity Standards Officer, commented:
“At North Lincolnshire Council we saw the decision to subscribe to IID as a best practice one - we were the first council to do so. We have mainstreamed action working towards IID within our wider diversity action planning. We recognise the standard as one vehicle to the continuing development, evidencing and embedding of equality and diversity in the organisation”
Below are some of the benefits for the smallest businesses of our nation:
- NCFD has now made it possible for the smallest organisation to adopt a structured approach to diversity management as well as becoming compliant.
- It will help you with the tendering for public sector contracts.
- The Investors in Diversity Award is seen by many as more than just a prestigious quality mark. It is a whole new all-encompassing approach to managing ED & I.
- It enables you to take a structured and planned approach to manage equality and diversity.
- IiD provides you with a central place - a framework under which you can bring together your ED&I work.
- Achieve formal and independent recognition.
Creating a Level playing field
In the past smaller organisations especially charities and sole traders have missed out in taking part in diversity programs, but this no longer the case. They too can demonstrate their diversity credentials by adopting the Investors in Diversity standard and achieving the accreditation. As the small businesses sector is the lifeblood of the British economy, the National Centre for Diversity has teamed up with national organisations such as the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) which has a membership of 6,000 organisations, to help the smaller organisations in becoming diversity competent.
The solution
We have developed a packages that can now support sole traders whether a painter or a restaurant. This is because people at NCFD are passionate about making the UK the diversity capital of the world. NCFD is already working with more than 120 organisations of all sizes and sectors to derive real benefits for their employees and customers. We want to help ensure that every single person in the UK has access to our diversity awareness programmes. This is why we have now developed Level-1 of Investors in Diversity.
