North East diversity experts share what works well in the workplace

North East diversity experts are coming together to share how they are helping change the workplace in a new programme aimed at helping more companies reap the benefits.

The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Management Programme has been developed by north east based 50:50 Future, and panelists sharing insights include leaders from the telecoms, construction, and higher education sector.

Jill Newman is a senior HR business partner at BT Openreach, among her responsibilities is connecting with 14,000 field engineers across the UK to engage and involve them in diversity and inclusion.

Jill says her previous experience in male dominated sectors like the police has helped, but what has made a massive difference in Openreach has been the commitment and buy-in of the executive leadership to D&I.

“Currently D&I is genuinely top of the agenda for us,” says Jill. “The focus of the business is on improving every aspect of it, from recruitment to communications, and there is very visible leadership from the top on all the issues.

“Leaders sometimes don’t realise what a huge influence they have on hearts and minds, and they are critical to D&I being seen as something essential for everyone, not just a tick box exercise or legal requirements.

“We have trained our managers to be able to deliver D&I training to colleagues in the field and what’s been most effective has been the way that’s been delivered it’s real and authentic, and all about being inclusive, it’s something that touches everyone.”

Kieran Thompson, head of talent, diversity, and inclusion at Cundall, is also one of the experts on the 50:50 programme. Kieran says, “The real challenge comes when they are asked to make the effort to change how they behave and communicate every day. To respond to this, we created a targeted programme structured around the principles of inclusive leadership.

“We have also taken a bottom-up approach through our internal communities. We have networks created and run by staff, focused on gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and neuro-inclusion. They each have a budget, set their own agendas – and also get a voice at the top table, so have influenced how we do things.”

The Leadership Management Programme has been developed by north east D&I training experts 50:50 Future, run by Lyndsey Britton-Lee and Lynsey Harbottle. The online only programme is aimed at HR professionals to gain the confidence and expertise to champion D&I in their organisation, taking away essential tools and resources to do so.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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