What can we all do?

What are we doing?

The foundation has been working hard with industry, industry bodies and diversity initiatives during the months since we launched in October 2008. Some of our activities include:

Ongoing Discussion Forums
We have all heard the words ‘Diversity’, ‘Inclusion’ and ‘Equality’ but what does this really mean for businesses and individuals?

The whole industry needs to be more OPEN about this topic and understand the benefits to the workforce and business of focusing in this area.

One & All is running Discussion Forums on a monthly basis in 2009 to engage all levels of industry and encourage people to examine the issue and relate the campaign and its actions to their own working lives.

Find out more about the discussion forums here.

Research
One & All is working with Oxford Brookes University to secure funding for a major Research Project.

We need to know more about the barriers faced and the ways in which we can remove them. It is also important to understand the current make up of the industry and the roles and levels in which diverse individuals currently succeed.

Reverse Mentoring Programme
One & All is facilitating a reverse mentoring programme for the industry.

A 2 sided mentoring scheme in which both sides learn from each other - the individual receives traditional mentoring and support and the mentor learns more about the challenges faced by emerging talent from minority groups through one to one contact.

We launched on July 16th to see photos and find out more about the reverse mentoring programme click here.

Best Practice and Role Models
One and All will make sure that everyone can learn from previous experience and remove the need for each company to spend valuable time and resources making the same mistakes by discovering and sharing ideas and good practice.

We will find simple, relevant ways that you can imbed good practice into your existing businesses, without creating complex additional processes and provide practical, useful information on how to improve business practices to maximise involvement and retention of diverse groups.

In order to encourage and retain different people we will identify and promote role models from various backgrounds, at various levels within industry to inspire others and share their stories. If you have someone in mind that we should speak to please get in touch.

Monitor the Workforce
By encouraging businesses to monitor the make up of the workforce, we can see where we need to go and how we need to get there. The more we know about the employees in our businesses the more easily we can create and maintain an environment in which they can all thrive.

We will share ways in which this information can be captured and monitored to add value to your talent management and your workforce.

Contributing to the wider debate
One & All is involved in broader groups focussing on Gender, Ethnicity and Disability, including an Employer Engagement group for the DWP’s Ethnic Minority Employment Taskforce and the DCMS Accessibility Stakeholder Forum working to increase accessibility across the country. This all heaps us to learn from the work of others, provides a hospitality focused voice in these areas and makes sure that our progress is linked in with other initiatives.

What can you do?

Get involved

• Come to our Discussion Forums
• Nominate Candidates for the Reverse Mentoring Programme
• Register your support or become a member
• Talk to us about the good things happening in your business

Try this test:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/uk/

This site was set up by Harvard University to test people’s implicit biases. We believe that the more people are aware of their own preconceived perceptions and inherent biases, the more equal the playing field becomes.

It’s not about being racist, sexist, homophobic etc.
It’s not about blame.
It’s about understanding our own experiences and societies influences and using this to make fair and reasonable decisions about other people.

Have a look ‘in your own backyard’
Be aware as you go about your day to day business of the topic of diversity and inclusion. Don’t be afraid to notice the various talents in your teams - maybe tap someone on the shoulder and suggest that they apply for an opportunity. Get a feel for the level of diversity within different layers of your business.
Notice the good things and tell us about them - share your stories…

Put your hand up
Are you a company or business that wants its employees and customers to know that they are all important to you?

Then get behind the One and All Foundation

Read here about Membership opportunities