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09/10/2003
Top companies urged to join 'Race for Opportunity'
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt today wrote to 500 of Britain's top companies to urge them to join the 'Race for Opportunity' scheme.
'Race for Opportunity' offers specialist support and advice to British businesses, and rates how ethnic minorities are treated in their companies as employees and as customers.
The benchmarking system allows businesses to evaluate a number of race-related issues including: how well they understand the values and needs of ethnic minority customers and stakeholders; how well race is integrated into the business's key performance indicators; and how many ethnic minority employees reach senior positions in the organization.
Ms Hewitt also said she would like to see the number of FTSE 100 companies who are members double over the next year.
Speaking at the 'Race for Opportunity' annual dinner, Ms Hewitt encouraged leading employers to adopt the benchmarking process to make sure that they are making the most of their workforce and appeal to their widest potential customer base.
"We're determined to create a Britain where everyone can reach their full potential; where racism is unacceptable and is counteracted; and where racial diversity is celebrated," she said.
"Only 18 FTSE 100 companies went for benchmarking this year. Next year, I want to see this double, or more."
The Department of Trade and Industry received a Gold Award for its commitment to race issues in the workplace, and was ranked as 2nd best public sector employer, after the Army. Lloyds TSB was rated the best employer overall.
Allan Leighton, chair of Race for Opportunity, said: "The private sector is continually being challenged to take accountability for and play its part in creating a truly competitive multicultural UK society. An unprecedented number of organisations from both the private and public sector have risen to the challenge this year of reporting on the performance of their UK operations on race, and on what is making a real difference now."
(gmcg)
'Race for Opportunity' offers specialist support and advice to British businesses, and rates how ethnic minorities are treated in their companies as employees and as customers.
The benchmarking system allows businesses to evaluate a number of race-related issues including: how well they understand the values and needs of ethnic minority customers and stakeholders; how well race is integrated into the business's key performance indicators; and how many ethnic minority employees reach senior positions in the organization.
Ms Hewitt also said she would like to see the number of FTSE 100 companies who are members double over the next year.
Speaking at the 'Race for Opportunity' annual dinner, Ms Hewitt encouraged leading employers to adopt the benchmarking process to make sure that they are making the most of their workforce and appeal to their widest potential customer base.
"We're determined to create a Britain where everyone can reach their full potential; where racism is unacceptable and is counteracted; and where racial diversity is celebrated," she said.
"Only 18 FTSE 100 companies went for benchmarking this year. Next year, I want to see this double, or more."
The Department of Trade and Industry received a Gold Award for its commitment to race issues in the workplace, and was ranked as 2nd best public sector employer, after the Army. Lloyds TSB was rated the best employer overall.
Allan Leighton, chair of Race for Opportunity, said: "The private sector is continually being challenged to take accountability for and play its part in creating a truly competitive multicultural UK society. An unprecedented number of organisations from both the private and public sector have risen to the challenge this year of reporting on the performance of their UK operations on race, and on what is making a real difference now."
(gmcg)
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