Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are essential for any business that wants to be successful in the 21st century. A diverse workforce brings a wider range of perspectives and ideas to the table, which can lead to better decision-making and more innovative products and services. DEI also helps to create a more inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
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Sky Group’s DEI Manifesto
Sky Group, one of the UK’s leading media and entertainment companies, is committed to DEI. The company has several initiatives in place to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including:
- DEI training: All Sky employees are required to complete DEI training. This training covers unconscious bias, inclusive language, and how to create a more inclusive workplace.
- Inclusive recruitment practices: Sky uses some inclusive recruitment practices to ensure that its workforce is as diverse as possible. These practices include using a variety of job boards and recruitment agencies and working with organisations that support underrepresented groups.
- Employee resource groups: Sky has many employee resource groups that support specific underrepresented groups, such as women, LGBTQ+ employees, and employees with disabilities. These groups provide support and networking opportunities for their members.
- Diversity targets: Sky has set several diversity targets, including a target of having 20% of its workforce from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds by 2025.
Zai Bennett, Sky Group’s Managing Director of Content, is a strong advocate for DEI. He believes that DEI is essential for Sky to remain competitive and to produce the best possible content for its customers.
In a recent publication, Bennett said:
“Diversity and inclusion need to be a part of the initial thinking from the start. It’s not something that you can bolt on at the end. It’s about having a diverse team that reflects the world around us and that can bring a wide range of perspectives to the table.”
Bennett also said that DEI training is crucial for creating a more inclusive workplace. He said:
“DEI training is essential for everyone. It helps us to understand our own biases and how to create a more inclusive environment for everyone. It’s also important to remember that this is not a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing process that we all need to be committed to.”
Why DEI Training is Crucial
DEI training is crucial for many reasons. First, it helps employees to understand unconscious bias. Unconscious bias is a type of bias that we are not aware of. It can lead us to make unfair decisions, even if we don’t mean to. DEI training can help employees to identify and address their unconscious biases.
Second, this helps employees to learn how to create a more inclusive workplace. This includes learning how to use inclusive language, how to make accommodations for people with disabilities, and how to create a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.
Third, this can help to improve employee morale and productivity. When employees feel valued and respected, they are more likely to be engaged and productive. DEI training can help to create a more positive and productive work environment.
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Other Initiatives by Companies in the UK
In addition to the DEI initiatives mentioned above, there are other initiatives that companies in the UK are implementing. These initiatives include:
- Mentoring programs: Mentoring programs can help connect employees from underrepresented groups with more senior employees who can provide guidance and support.
- Diversity and inclusion councils: Diversity and inclusion councils are employees working together to promote DEI in the workplace.
- Flexible working arrangements: Flexible working arrangements can help to make it easier for employees to balance their work and personal lives. This can be especially beneficial for employees with disabilities and employees with families.
- Employee referral programs: Employee referral programs can help to increase the diversity of the applicant pool by encouraging
Sky Group is one of many companies in the UK that are committed to DEI. Other companies that have initiatives in place include:
- BBC: The BBC has several initiatives in place, including a target of having a workforce that is 50% female and 15% BAME by 2025.
- Channel 4: Channel 4 also has initiatives in place, including a target of having a workforce that is 30% BAME by 2023.
- ITV: ITV’s initiatives include a target of having a workforce that is 20% BAME by 2025.
These companies are all leading the way in promoting DEI in the workplace. Their initiatives are helping to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce, which is beneficial for both the companies and their customers.
Going forward, it is hoped that companies fully commit to their DEI initiatives to actualise diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. For more information on the matter, head to the Redmans’ guide on employee rights which covers the basics of establishing an inclusive workplace.
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