Tag: Ethnic Representation

In Race Equality Week it seems particularly appropriate to talk about Ethnic underrepresentation

Understanding the benefits having a diverse workforce brings to an organisation, shows it is an issue that shouldn’t be ignored by companies wanting to attract the best talent, to innovate and be market-leaders. Yet it is a complex and challenging issue, one that many organisations still struggle to address effectively.

We are often asked if introducing quotas is the best way to address representation. The simple answer for us, is “no”. No-one wants to be hired because of the colour of their skin (or any other characteristic). People want to be hired to do a job well, because they are the best candidate for the job. We acknowledge hiring is just part of the solution, talent retention and development are also essential to address underrepresentation, long-term, but will save those topics for another day! 

Many organisations believe they hire on meritocracy, but actually need to closely examine their policies and processes to understand the barriers to entry that often exist (unintentionally, or otherwise), which have created inequality in the status quo – and therefore underrepresentation. 

Whilst we aren’t a fan of quotas, the first step to addressing underrepresentation is to diagnose who is missing from your workforce. Analysing your existing workforce, by level and job role is an essential starting point.  

Considering factors such as location and industry are also important in understanding your talent make-up. 

If an organisation is based in rural Cornwall the demographic of available, local talent will be very different than if you are based in central London and may require additional effort. 

Historically many industries were dominated by a particular ethnic group or gender. Knowing your industry, the challenges or opportunities that brings, is also essential to successfully address representation.  

Understanding how your workforce compares to the population helps you identify who is missing. You can then begin to identify why they are missing. This is rarely as straightforward as bias (unconscious or intentional) from hiring managers during the interview process.  

Insisting a candidate has 10 years of industry experience, when historically the industry has been dominated by White talent, immediately eliminates all candidates of Ethnic heritage who are, otherwise, brilliantly qualified for the role. Likewise, requiring candidates to have a degree, doesn’t necessarily guarantee their suitability or aptitude for a role. 

Often job descriptions, policies and hiring processes are outdated and need to be completely reimaged to attract and measure talent effectively for today’s workforce. Doing what you’ve always done, simply perpetuates the inequalities and barriers that have been created historically. Review what you are asking for in a job description. Is it relevant to the role? How could it eliminate some groups of people? Revisit your policies and processes to ensure they are fit for purpose. AI based recruitment and talent platforms are also prone to learning bias quickly, so ensure human and AI learning is unbiased and genuinely removing barriers for everyone.  

Many organisations (if they monitor EDI data during their hiring process) often conclude the “diverse talent” they hoped to attract, does not exist if “they” don’t apply for a role.  

Lack of applications is not usually an accurate reflection of the talent that exists – it simply reflects the talent that is attracted to your organisation.  

Lack of attraction can occur because unreasonable hiring criteria eliminates the talent you want, as mentioned above. But is also hugely impacted by what a candidate sees when they look at your organisation. Does it appeal to them? Do they believe they would be welcome and enjoy working for the company? Seeing someone like you represented is powerful if you are from an ethnic or marginalised background. It sends a clear message, you are welcome, you belong and you can flourish here!  

The challenge to attract diverse talent can be made harder when the route into an industry, as a whole, is also historically un-diverse (Construction, STEM, Financial Services etc.) and requires intervention much earlier. 

So, what do you do if your organisation or industry is not diverse? The answer from an organisational perspective starts with more analysis. Review your messaging and imagery – does your website and social media appeal to your target audience? Does it signal to people they are welcome? Get external feedback from the audiences you want to attract. If changes are required, make sure they are authentic, not tokenistic.  

If you are in an industry where ethnic talent is underrepresented, undertaking proactive initiatives that reach that audience and raise awareness of the routes into the industry is essential. Reaching and engaging young people in education and early stage career events creates pathways for fresh new talent, helping to level the playing field.  

Publicly showing your support and investment in these initiatives and actively inviting young talent to your business increases your future talent pipeline and is a powerful tool for attracting all talent that exists now. By being a trailblazer in your industry, you automatically become the employer of choice, attracting both active and passive talent. 

The Land Collective is one such initiative working to address the barriers that prevent young people from underrepresented backgrounds from accessing careers in the real estate and built environment sectors. These industries have historically relied on established networks and traditional recruitment pathways that often exclude those without prior exposure or industry connections. As a result, many talented individuals are unaware of the opportunities available or struggle to navigate hiring processes that don’t account for different starting points. 

To tackle these challenges, The Land Collective focuses on both awareness and preparedness, ensuring that young people not only see real estate as a viable career option but also have the skills and confidence to succeed. Their programmes in partnership with employers provide structured routes into the sector, equipping early talent with industry knowledge, technical training, and professional development opportunities. By embedding employer engagement into these programmes, they help businesses build relationships with diverse candidates long before they enter the formal recruitment process, strengthening their early talent pipelines in a meaningful way. 

A proactive approach makes a real difference, not just in attracting applications from underrepresented groups, but in ensuring long-term career progression. Many of the young people they work with go on to secure roles in the industry, and continued support beyond the initial hiring stage helps them to thrive. For employers, this means rethinking how they connect with talent, moving beyond passive recruitment strategies to actively investing in the next generation. 

Employers who take a long-term approach to inclusion, supporting talent from the early stages of their career through to leadership, will be the ones driving real change across the sector. 

As mentioned, attracting and hiring diverse talent is only part of the equation to improve representation. Like the proverbial leaky bucket, if you are then losing your diverse talent, it will be a never ending challenge to fill the bucket. This is where retention and development are crucial. 

According to the Parker Review (https://parkerreview.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Parker-Review-March-2024.pdf )  published in March 2024, depressingly there are just 12 CEOs of Ethnic heritage in the FTSE 100.  

To tackle underrepresentation at Leadership level in organisations of every size, retention and barriers to progression (glass and concrete ceilings) must be tackled. Cultures and environments must be inclusive for everyone – allowing people to perform and thrive as their authentic selves.  

EDI Accreditation provides the first impartial, intersectional accreditation to provide a detailed benchmark of your current EDI performance and comprehensive report helping guide your ongoing journey of improvement to address all the issues raised. Becoming accrEDIted© not only reveals the essential insights required to create impactful change, but provides external, impartial validation and recognition of your EDI commitment. To find out more about becoming accrEDIted© please get in touch.