Scots businesses urged to lead the UK in ethnic employment opportunities

The chief executive of Adopt an Intern (AAI) will today tell its largest ever conference gathering in Glasgow that Scots businesses must strive to lead the UK in the creation of more ethnic employment opportunities.

Joy Lewis, along with Sandra White, MSP, will be speaking to over 130 potential employers, policymakers and community leaders at the launch of ‘Diversity Works’ an inclusive employment project focused on helping businesses to better attract talented black, minority and ethnic (BME) women into the Scottish workforce.

Ms Lewis will highlight the need for more inclusive hiring and work processes and urge Scots business leaders to now ‘do more’ and reap the benefits of a truly diverse workforce. AAI has worked with over 900 businesses since its formation in 2010 and successfully staged a series of ‘women returner’ events throughout Scotland last year fronted by AAI patron, Scots Supermodel, Eunice Olumide, MBE.

The Scottish Government, ‘Local Area Labour Markets in Scotland: Statistics from Annual Population Survey 2014’ recorded the employment rate of BME workers as 13 per cent lower than white counterparts with a higher gap (20 per cent) for BME women than men (8 per cent).

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) 2016 report ‘Is Scotland Fairer? The State of Equality and Human Rights’ showed that BME unemployment rates are higher at 13.2 per cent compared to 6.9 per cent for other workers.

The Scottish Government’s analysis of the 2011 census also illustrated significant differences in employment rates, the lowest being Pakistani and Bangladeshi people (42.9%).

Viana Maya, a successful participant of AAI’s minority ethnic employment initiative will also address the delegation.

Following its Glasgow launch Diversity Works will be staged throughout Scotland.

Joy Lewis, chief executive of AAI, said: “This is not about quotas or even a feel-good factor for employers. Having worked with close to 1000 businesses over the last 10 years we have a developed knowledge of what works well for employers and makes them thrive. Our exposure and work with ethnic minority groups and BME women returners particularly over the last 18 months or so has highlighted the repeat challenges and barriers that exist to their gaining employment.

“Our Diversity Works programme will give Scots employers the awareness, tools and connectivity to achieve a diverse balanced workforce which we know is at the heart of successful corporate life.

“I believe there is a real opportunity for Scottish businesses to benefit from it and lead the way for true diversity in the UK. More must be done and now is the time”.

Viana Maya, said: “Giving BME women the opportunity to get into valuable work will bring a great diversity and innovation that an organisation may not realize they were missing.”

AAI’s work to date has focused predominantly on the young graduate population seeking employment opportunities but it has always had interest from returners over 30 years of age. It has worked with over 900 businesses drawn from across the Scottish economy and in every sector and of all sizes. It has a history of opening more opportunities for flexible working to women, challenging discrimination and ensuring equal pay.