As we all know, it’s been a very difficult year so it’s been really wonderful to see an intensifying effort around diversity and inclusion in our industry. So many people – now around 400 – are actively involved in the Diversity Project – thank you! Together, you helped achieve so much progress this year, please click here to see some of the milestones reached:
Reflecting the determination to achieve further progress, we had over 600 attendees at our first virtual Annual DP Event in November. The feedback has been great, with both the wide range of topics and speakers being well received. Thank you to all the speakers and to everyone who gave us your feedback so we can continue to make these events worthwhile. You can see all the footage and supporting documents from the event here.
At the event, we announced our DP Champion award winners and huge congratulations again to Emma Douglas, Katy Halliday, Rosanna Burcheri, Sean Taylor, Linda Russheim, the #TalkAboutBlack team and Ana Maria Tuliak. Many of the DP Community have also won Industry awards this quarter, which is great news. Well done to Gavin Lewis, Jenny Ockwell, Marisa Hall, Bev Shah and Linda Russheim.
Our Strategy half-day at the start of December brought over 70 people together – online of course – and led to a really productive discussion and plans for 2021. You’ll see some of our workstreams coming together to streamline the project as goals are achieved, but we are also announcing one new workstream to focus on wider ethnicity, supplementing the great work of #TalkAboutBlack. The members of the new workstream have already met and are looking forward to making strides next year.
Wishing you every joy over the festive season and hoping 2021 is a happier year!
Best wishes, Helena
Line Managers
Having effective line managers is key to ensuring that the working environment is inclusive. We would like to encourage organisations to initiate an internal conversations around their commitment to an inclusive culture involving key stakeholders: Short paper and long paper
Diversity Data
40 firms have been surveyed for the DP and LGBT Great Diversity Data Research Consultation. To contribute your ideas to a set of new industry recommendations, please contact Matt Cameron ([email protected]) More to follow soon!
Black History Month
#TalkAboutBlack, in conjunction with its partners, held a virtual event with Sir John Parker as keynote, to discuss how we can improve ethnic representation at the most senior levels of our businesses. To view the footage, click here and to view the Allyship flyer accompanying the event, click here.
SpringBoard Launch
In partnership with upReach the 20/21 Investment Industry Springboard programme was launched last week, with 27 DP Members providing mentors. We’re excited to be supporting 170 Associates this coming academic year. The team will be sending out formal communications in January 2021, but if you are interested or can provide work placements, please contact Emma Douglas ([email protected]).
CASP launch
An exciting and innovative pilot program aiming to boost the number of ethnic minority Londoners in asset management has launched, in cooperation with CISI, #TAB, the DP and some of our Members. 24 pupils from schools in Hackney and Shoreditch are in the pilot that runs for a year. To find out more contact [email protected].
City Hive Cross Company Mentoring
Sponsors and mentors are being sought for the 2021 Scheme in association with #TalkAboutBlack, which extends the scheme to include women and ethnic minorities as mentees. The initiative encourages development of a diverse talent pipeline, helping to future proof the investment management industry.
Socioeconomic Diversity in the Investment and Savings Industry
Read this interesting study, which is the result of a grant made by The Diversity Project Charity to The Social Mobility Foundation, into the barriers to social mobility, and how to overcome them. Click here to view it.
Disability workstream
We have been busy behind the scenes working with Scope and the Business Disability Forum, with a view to having 30 DP Members becoming Level 2 Disability Confident by the end of 2021. Sign up to the Scope webinar on the 28th of January (time TBC) to find out more about policy/ procedure/ recruitment and access to work toolkits. If you’d like to register, please email [email protected].
- Ignites: Diversity Project sets target for disability scheme participation
- Investment Week – print: Diversity 2020: The year to reset
- Institutional Asset Manager: At a crossroads: Coronavirus upheaval threatens progress on gender diversity in investment industry
- City AM: City sponsors initiative for more diversity in asset management
- ESG Clarity: Industry group launch after school programme for disadvantaged kids
- Ignites Europe: Fund firms back UK after-school programme for disadvantaged areas
- Investment Week – Marissa Hall (#IAM)
Improving social mobility, read more about Newton Investment Management’s programme.
Reverse mentoring pilot, find out more on what Wellington Management are doing in this area.
