Richard Houston, head of Deloitte UK, assured staff that the firm remains “committed to our diversity goals” and will continue annual reporting on inclusion progress.

This announcement followed a US policy shift, where Deloitte, amongst other major companies, has begun dismantling DEI programmes in response to the changing political climate.

This divergence in approach highlights a potential rift within the Big Four firm, despite claims of shared values. While Deloitte US has instructed staff working on government contracts to remove pronouns from email signatures and plans to discontinue diversity goals, Deloitte UK emphasised the importance of its diversity networks. Mr Houston stated that “events in the external landscape do not change our commitment to building an inclusive culture”, The Telegraph reports.

The US policy change follows increased scrutiny of DEI initiatives, particularly after the re-election of a Republican President. The administration has ordered a ban on diversity policies in corporate America and instructed federal agencies to eliminate references to “gender ideology”. This has placed firms with lucrative government contracts, like Accenture which recently scrapped its own DEI goals, in a precarious position. Accenture, who secured a substantial IT contract with the US Air Force, cited its commitment to meritocracy as the reason for this change.

A Deloitte UK spokesperson reiterated their commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture where all employees can thrive.