Member Article

Diverse workforces create "better business"

Small businesses without a diverse workforce could be at a disadvantage, new research suggests. A survey from Jobcentre Plus has found that 56% of customers would be more likely to use a business they knew to have such a workforce, and 79% of the respondents said they thought it was important for businesses to have a diversity policy in place.

A separate survey of employers found that businesses are becoming more willing to employ workers from different backgrounds. It revealed that 58% of employers claim to employ people from disabled backgrounds or socially excluded groups, such as lone parents, the long-term unemployed, or people from ethnic backgrounds. However, the findings showed that larger organisations are much more likely to employ people from diverse groups. The report claims that small businesses may find it difficult to have a representative workforce due to having far fewer employees.

Lesley Strathie, chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, said: “Creating diverse workforces is about more than just legislative compliance and corporate responsibility – it’s about better business. “This research proves to employers that being committed to diversity is not a business choice, but a business imperative. “Customers and employees want to shop and work in environments which reflect their local communities; by broadening the scope of their recruitment base, employers can plug skills gaps, improve retention and increase productivity.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .