Last weekend, I was very fortunate to be able to take part in the Birmingham Pride march alongside colleagues from Anthony Collins Solicitors and Birmingham Law Society. We were joined by thousands of employers across the city to celebrate the achievements of our LGBT+ community. The warmth and energy at the event really showed the power of what employers can achieve to promote diversity and inclusion when they come together.

This message comes at a great moment as this week is National Inclusion Week. The aim of National Inclusion Week is to bring employers together from all industries to celebrate, share and inspire inclusion practices.

This year’s theme is “United for Inclusion”. It is about encouraging employers to come together to share learning, best practice, successes and challenges. As we recover from the effects of the pandemic, it has never been more important for us to work together to ensure that those who have been the most disadvantaged do not get left behind.

Whilst addressing diversity and inclusion may seem like a huge task to some employers, you do not have to work in isolation. There are many local network groups that are available to assist you in formulating the best strategy for your organisation. For example, law firms in Birmingham work together through a fantastic equality, diversity and inclusion committee run by Birmingham Law Society, which organises events and initiatives aimed at encouraging best practice. If you are not aware of a local network group, then why not start one?

There are also lots of online resources on diversity and inclusion which are available to assist employers. Inclusive Employers, the organisation behind National Inclusion Week, has prepared a variety of helpful resources on diversity and inclusion which are free to employers who register on their website.

For employers looking to diversify their talent pool through engaging in outreach, my advice is exactly the same. There is a wealth of charities as well as schools and universities running vital programmes and mentoring schemes which are often reliant on professional volunteers. Getting involved in these projects will not only benefit their recipients but can often mean busy staff are able to get stuck into the important work straight away without having to coordinate logistics.

With the power of teamwork, I look forward to seeing what else we can go on to achieve.

#UnitedforInclusion #NationalInclusionWeek2021