EDI Research 2025
Introduction
There is widespread consensus that a diverse, inclusive workforce can reap meaningful rewards for businesses and employees. Drawing on a wide range of experiences and backgrounds in an organisation improves the potential for effectiveness, is conducive to innovation and creativity, and reduces groupthink.” – Inclusion at Work Panel, 2024
Beyond the moral imperative, the data repeatedly shows the benefits of diversity – the potential for more innovation, more profits, better investments. And yet, after a flurry of progress for women up until around a decade ago, progress has stalled – with Covid 19 particularly impacting the female workforce, the experience of women at work remains challenging and the UK position is worsening with regards to the gender pay gap. And after five years of intense focus on ethnicity and inclusion following the murder of George Floyd, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) movement is slowing pace. Reports of a ‘scaling back’ of EDI initiatives and question marks over the value of training are countered by a plethora of damaging sector reports into discrimination and a new law requiring organisations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This creates an increasingly confusing picture for companies who want to make progress.
IHPN members are not immune to this universal challenge. Our recent survey highlighted that while 46% of executive team members are female, only 19% of CEOs are. Data on ethnicity was low in quality – with 33% of employees not currently asked to share their ethnic background or opting not to (compared to only 4% in the NHS). 89% of IHPN executive team members and CEOs identify as white which is broadly in line with the NHS where staff from ethnic minorities make up 11.3% in senior managerial roles.
We have put together these resources for members to continue their efforts to maximise the inclusivity and diversity of their teams, and reap significant benefits, in line with the plan set out by the IHPN Women’s Network.
Useful introductory reading: Deloitte’s 8 powerful truths on diversity and inclusion at work.