Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Online Summit
Time: 09:30 - 16:30 BST (if you can't attend live, register to watch the recording)
Cost per attendee: £250 + VAT
Platform: Zoom - An encrypted zoom platform with password access. Click here for further information and to test access
"Diversity and Inclusion needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in."– Bo Young Lee, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Uber
In 2018, the most diverse workplaces in the UK were found to be 12% more likely to outperform industry averages than the least diverse. Companies that foster a well-developed Diversity and Inclusion strategy outperformed the national industry average by 15%. Discriminatory practices cost the UK economy on average £127 billion in lost output each year.
Recent events, such as COVID-19 and the BLM movement, have highlighted a pressing need for employers to revisit and reanalyse their Diversity and Inclusion strategies in order to quickly adapt to new challenges facing the workplace. Failure to employ an effective Diversity and Inclusion strategy causes threats to financial performance, reputational risks, as well as a disaffected and disenfranchised workforce.
A truly diverse workforce includes going above and beyond just the legal specifications, by creating an environment that fosters inclusivity to help employees maximise their potential.
Looking strategically at the post-COVID challenges, the Online Summit will address pay gap, remote working, and practical inclusion strategies, while a series of afternoon streamed workshops will drill down into specific topics: women, BAME, neurodiversity, disability, LGBT+, social mobility
Since our first Diversity event in 2006, BFI has been helping organisations stay up to date with addressing Diversity and Inclusion needs by offering the latest developments, policy and legal updates, as well as case studies from top employers.
Please note: If you have a topic to suggest or might like to speak at, endorse, or sponsor the event, please see how to get involved here
Which functions will benefit from attending
- HR, Diversity & Inclusion, Occupational Health, Recruitment & Resourcing, Policy & Strategy, Operations, Legal, Talent, Equality, Policy, Organisational Development, Employer Branding, Engagement, Employee Relations, People Development, Learning and Development, Improvement and Quality and all Directors and Line Managers with responsibilities in this area.
Hear from
Schedule
Welcome and introduction to the day
Elizabeth Smith
Director of Research , Business Forums International Ltd. (BFI)
Elizabeth is director of research and a founding co-director at Business Forums International. She is responsible for all programme content and writing, and researches current areas of interest for senior HR professionals in large organisations. BFI is the UK’s leading HR risk specialist conference and training provider, delivering key and timely information to over 3,000 delegates a year both through public and in-house training courses. Before founding BFI in 1996, Elizabeth specialised in researching corporate financial programmes in Asia and the Middle East, based in Dubai. She also worked in advertising and publishing in the Middle East and London. Elizabeth was educated in the West Indies, Saudi Arabia and Belgium before reading Modern Languages at Durham University. She is currently developing an online training course for line managers to raise awareness of menopause symptoms and ways that employers can work to make their workplaces more inclusive.
Keynote address: the scope of our challenge
Vandana Dass
Managing Director / Senior Solicitor , Davenport Solicitors
Vandana has over 15 years’ experience in HR, Employment and Business Immigration, working with national and international organisations. She advises businesses on a range of Employment law and Immigration matters from implementing employment contracts and policies, advising on complex employment litigation matters and day to day HR issues, advising on Sponsorship licences and managing them and advising on various business visa and worker routes. She has developed strong relationships with her clients and has worked with a range of clients including but not limited to: technology, retail, hospitality, HR, energy, professional services, medical, financial, As a business owner herself, she understands that challenges business owners may face and that’s why you’ll find that her advice is commercially sound as well as compliant. Many owners battle with running their business and also dealing with employee matters so her aim is to make HR and immigration law accessible to Employers so they can get advice from solicitors at the right time, right place and at the right price! Vandana regularly speaks at events and provides HR/Employment training sessions to organisations. She has also been a lecturer at South Bank University and the Open University. She is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association, Employment Lawyers Association, the European Employment Lawyers Association and a Committee member of the Asian Business Association.
- A snapshot of UK and European race relations: how do we stand up?
- Understanding the effects of division in your workplace: the legacy of Brexit, furlough and the race conversations and protests
- Building ethical and transparent companies
- D&I policy: what should it look like?
Opening address: post-COVID challenges: what are the obstacles? Corporate culture, leadership skills and transformation
Dawn Osbourne
Founder & Chair, Black Employee Network EMEA , Adobe
Adobe has given me an amazing platform as the founder and chair of BEN UK. I believe that inclusivity and a sense of belonging develops a strong internal community where people can bring their authentic selves to work. This in turn improves morale and increases performance. My vision is a diverse workforce where people from all backgrounds are represented. I oversea Personal/Professional Development for BAME Employees; development of future talent and creating opportunities for all within Adobe; and Social Outreach campaigns within the Black community (recently influencing over 1 million USD of donations to the BLM movement).
- Understanding the effects of division in your workplace: the legacy of Brexit, furlough and the race conversations and protests
- Where is your company right now? A yardstick for inclusion
- Analysing and quantifying your D&I status: key questions
- What are the specific challenges facing making workplaces inclusive?
Legal framework: what are your obligations and duties?
Kate Dodd
Diversity and Inclusion Consultant , Pinsent Masons LLP
Kate Dodd is a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant for Pinsent Masons LLP. She advises the business, and its clients, across the full range of inclusion, culture, and wellbeing topics. Kate’s passion is for creating great workplaces that allow talent to thrive. She has a flair for culture change and helping leaders to learn how to start conversations around complex workplace issues. Kate has been instrumental in founding and developing the Mindful Business Charter, which is a cross-industry cultural change enabler focused upon increasing wellbeing. The MBC has now been adopted by more than 40 international organisations, creating happier, more mindful workplaces. Kate is passionate about supporting businesses to attract and retain the best talent, and to cultivate the skills needed to serve their clients and communities. Known for managing complex issues with sensitivity and discretion, Kate is described as “very knowledgeable with a great understanding of clients’ businesses”. Kate is an employment lawyer by background. An experienced advocate, she represented her clients in Employment Tribunals across England, Scotland and Wales across a full range of sensitive discrimination and equality issues for 15 years before moving into a specialist D&I role.
- The Equality Act 2010
- Making decisions: legal versus cultural issues
- Discrimination: what policy changes should you implement to make your workplace fair and be an employer of choice?
Let's Talk Race
Nichole McGill-Higgins (she/her)
Award Winning Race Equality Campaigner, Founder & Director
Changez Life
Nichole McGill-Higgins (she/her)
Award Winning Race Equality Campaigner, Founder & Director , Changez Life
Nichole is an award-winning campaigner, coach, consultant and motivational speaker on race equality and inclusion. Commended for her work tackling oppression, aggression and prejudice in the workplace, she is dedicated to rooting out injustice, becoming the voice for those who may not have the courage to speak for themselves and exploring intersectionality. Nichole is a global keynote speaker at events which focus on racism and the uncomfortable truths which surround it. Through her authentic storytelling in a direct, jargon-free tone, Nichole wins over audiences and organisations – encouraging everyone to take responsibility and action for diversity and inclusion. As a positive disrupter, Nichole uses coaching and design-led thinking methodologies to help organisations experience their own awakening, changing hearts and minds. Nichole led the CIPD’s internal Race Review project, assessing whether the CIPD was dismantling or upholding racial inequality in response to the murder of George Floyd. As a critical friend, she oversaw the content produced by the CIPD to support people professionals in tackling racism and racial discrimination in the workplace. Nichole is a trustee for Rape Crisis Centre (RASASC), a South London charity, focusing on anti-racism and transgender rights. She leads their D&I strategy, underpinning the support offered to survivors, employee engagement and corporate governance. Nichole was named ‘Campaigner of the Year 2020’ by The Baton Awards for her outstanding contribution to racial equality, working with young people and organisations. Nichole was also celebrated as National Mentor of the Year by the National Mentoring Awards in 2019. Other previous voluntary roles include Trustee for the Croydon BME Forum and founding Co-chair of EmbRACE, the CIPD’s employee resource group dedicated to educating colleagues about race and opening up difficult conversations. As well as speaking at events, coaching and consultancy, Nichole delivers training sessions, designs immersive workshops and implements inclusion strategies to drive racial equality and inclusion for employees and employers.
- How to start difficult conversations
- What you can do now
- Useful resources
- The impact of staff networks
Break
Remote working: an opportunity at closing diversity gaps?
Daniel Winterfeldt MBE QC (Hon)
General Counsel for EMEA and Asia, Jefferies International Ltd and Founder & Chair of
InterLaw Diversity Forum
Daniel Winterfeldt MBE QC (Hon)
General Counsel for EMEA and Asia, Jefferies International Ltd and Founder & Chair of , InterLaw Diversity Forum
Daniel is founder and chair of the InterLaw Diversity Forum, which seeks to promote meritocracy and inclusion for all diverse groups working in the legal sector. The InterLaw Diversity Forum was "Highly Commended" by the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards in 2016 for 'Innovation in Human Resources'. Daniel is interested in the impact of the pandemic crisis on legal professionals in protected categories (women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBT+ and disabled communities) are how they are being disproportionately affected. Added to this, he is keenly aware of a heightened sense of inequality in society, with the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement gaining important momentum. In addition, Daniel was named the "Legal Innovator of the Year" at the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards in 2012 for his work in capital markets and diversity and inclusion. In 2020 Daniel was appointed as Queen's Counsel Honoris Causa (Honorary QC) for both his contributions to capital markets in England & Wales through the Forum for US Securities Lawyers in London as well as his contributions to diversity, inclusion and culture in the legal sector through the InterLaw Diversity Forum.
- Strategies to ensure parity for employees working from home: gender and socioeconomic considerations
- New tech, new roles, new skills: starting with a truly level playing field
- How reskilling and upskilling will change your organisation’s diversity dynamics
Practical strategy for recruitment and progression
Osita Madu
EDI Manager , HS2
A CIPD qualified Human Resource professional with 18 years’ experience spent specialising in Employee Relations, Recruitment, Training, Mediation and Diversity & Inclusion. Osita has made the most impact by developing, influencing, implementing and managing diversity across various sectors from local authorities, housing, media, banking and most recently infrastructure programme at High Speed Two. Previously Head of EDI at HS2, he joined the organisation in June 2016 where he has won a number of awards and gained recognition for his innovative approach to inclusive procurement and tendering for all major suppliers to HS2.
- Examining your hiring practices post-Covid: what should they look like in future?
- Visibility and restructuring: nurturing diverse board prospects
- Levelling the playing field for women and BAME employees: fair representation and opportunity
- Retaining skills during times of crisis
Mental health strategy: understanding where we are now and how to respond
Emma Mamo
Head of Workplace Wellbeing , Mind
Emma is currently Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind. Emma joined Mind in 2007 and, since 2010, has led Mind’s campaigning for mentally healthy workplaces - playing a pivotal role in thought leadership to position mental health in the workplace as a key priority for employers and Government. Emma has led culture change through engagement with employers, health and safety professionals, HR audiences and Government on mental health in the workplace and back-to-work support for people with mental health problems. She also supports networks of employers and stakeholders to share best practice and develop business-to-business peer support. Emma’s prior role at Mind was as Policy and Campaigns Manager of the Social Inclusion and Rights team, leading on promoting social inclusion and upholding the human rights of people with mental health problems across the following areas: employment; benefits and welfare reform; debt and poverty; access to the criminal justice system; and equality and discrimination law. During this time, Emma led Mind’s successful national campaigns ‘Taking care of business: mental health at work’ and ‘In the red: debt and mental health’, both achieving awards and recognition for impact and innovation
- Reflecting on the impact of recent events – COVID-19, BLM, Brexit etc
- How to develop a mentally healthy and inclusive workplace
- How to take of yourself during challenging times
Lunch break
Has HR failed on Diversity and Inclusion?: the reporting landscape
Nuzhat Ali
National Lead for Health Improvement , Public Health England
Collaborative and engaging inclusive system leader with passion and commitment to make a real difference to population health and well-being outcomes and the individual lives of people in our organisations and communities. Nuzhat Ali is a National Health Improvement Lead for Public Health England and is also Co-Chair for the Civil Services Muslim Staff Network. She was awarded the inaugural Civil Service Championing Faith and Belief Inclusion Award in October 2019. Recognised for extensive contributions to diversity and inclusion. Nuzhat is passionate about inclusion and advocating for intersectionality. She is an active steering group member for her organisation’s BAME network and champions the wider diversity inclusion agenda Nuzhat began her career in the NHS as a front-line clinician, nearly 30 years ago. She has since worked across various health sector settings locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, in leadership roles, with a proven ability to build robust partnerships that facilitate transformative change. Skilled in creating added value through people. Passionate and committed to developing/designing inclusive work environments. Qualified and experienced in Organisation Development, Quality Improvement, Service redesign and diversity and inclusion leadership She is relentless about engaging with and mobilising communities and stakeholders to tackle the persistent causes of inequalities through her work in Government and in her multiple voluntary roles. Nuzhat is Chair and Founder of a London based women’s voluntary group, which aims to engage and connect with ‘seldom heard’ local women to encourage participation in civic activity and develop resilience. She is also Trustee on the Board of a national and a local voluntary sector organisation, and also provides visible leadership to various forums.
Duncan Brown
Principal Associate at IES & Visiting Professor , University of Greenwich
Duncan has 30 years’ experience working in major HR consultancies and employment institutes, including Willis Towers Watson and IES. He also spent five years as the deputy CEO at CIPD. His clients have included National Grid, the Cabinet Office, the Department of Health, Unicef UK and the Fairtrade Foundation. He has carried out major reviews for the government of the pay determination methodologies for groups including doctors and dentists and the judiciary. He has been on expert panels on topics including employee engagement, fair pay and pensions; and he inputted extensively on the gender pay reporting proposals. He was also a member of the research team that have carried out the gender pay gap in medicine review. Earlier this year, he was confirmed in the top ten HR Most Influential Thinkers list produce by Human Resources magazine.
Matt Boyd
Founder , Exceptional Individuals
Exceptional Individuals provides consulting, recruitment and employment support to employers and individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism. We provide the benefit of lived experience and are passionate about creating wider employment opportunities and better understanding and appreciation for neurodiverse individuals everywhere.
- A review of pay gap reporting: wins and losses
- Improvements to implement moving forward
- What is best practice?
- What are the challenges for ethnicity and other pay gap reporting?
Panel: the role of unions in promoting inclusivity: utopia or reality?
Derek Luckhurst
Training and Development Director , IPA
Derek Luckhurst has been the Training & Development Director of the IPA (Involvement And Participation Association) since December 2000 responsible for consultancy services. Previously he was the Manufacturing, Science And Finance Union’s National Secretary for Legal & General since 1996. He was instrumental in the establishment of a breakthrough partnership agreement, which was signed at L&G in 1997. At IPA he has developed partnership workshops for the Inland Revenue, the Audit Commission, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Aintree NHS Trust, Bolton NHS Trust and Santander. In conjunction with the workshop, he has written a partnership induction programme specifically tailored for people working on partnership initiatives. He is the author of “A Practitioner’s Guide To Sustaining Industrial Partnership” published by the IPA with DTI support in 2004, updated and re-published in 2011. He also wrote a Staff Representatives’ Handbook, which has been commissioned by Sanctuary Housing, Halfords, BP, Coral Racing and Avon Cosmetics. He has worked with many organisations helping them with employee relations including United Welsh Housing Association, Steria, Standard Life, Santander, Norwich Union, Royal College Of Surgeons, The General Medical Council, The Prince’s Trust, Egg, Blue Arrow, Royal National Institute For Deaf People, Bank Of Ireland UK Financial Services, The Independent Police Complaints Commission, The Healthcare Commission, Avon Cosmetics, The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, The National Asthma Campaign, National Grid, Peabody Trust, British Bakeries, The Employers Organisation, Pizza Express, The Communication Workers Union, The Post Office, De La Rue Cash Systems, Peabody Housing, Corps of Commissionaires, The Cancer Research Campaign, South East Water, Inland Revenue, Eurotunnel, Siemens, Pfizer, Terrence Higgins Trust, Electoral Reform Services, Opportunity Links, Kelloggs, the CBI, Skandia, AOL Broadband, Vodafone, Kimberley Clark and BP, Pearson, City & Guilds and HCL. Derek has also introduced the option-based consultation model for the effective involvement of the representatives of employees, be they union or non-union in identifying opinions and influencing the decision making process at a strategic level within organisations. Described by Keith Sisson, Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations at Warwick Business School as a ‘landmark in UK industrial relations’, Derek has been busy training managers and employee representatives in option-based consultation in organisations like the Healthcare Commission, Standard Life, Bank Of Ireland, United Welsh Housing and many others. Derek leads the IPA’s influential Best Practice Network and, with them, developed the “15 Strategic Questions” that have proved popular with representatives and senior managers alike. He is also the author of “The 5 Key Steps To Employee Engagement”, published in 2007, which explores the unique role representatives can play in ensuring staff lose the cynicism that blocks engagement. He was a key player in developing a framework for flexible working in Legal & General and was responsible for the training of both managers and union representatives in how the concept should work in practice. A new anti-harassment and bullying procedure was established during his term of office together with improved grievance and disciplinary processes.
Joanne Williams
Chartered CIPD, Director & Owner Building Human Resources LTD
Whether you need HR support with recruitment, employment contracts, managing disciplinaries, carrying out investigations, running change management,TUPE, restructuring and consultations or anything else on your journey as an employer, we can help by providing HR consultancy & interim support. Clients include public, private & voluntary sector organisations from small start ups to large established companies. Supporting businesses & managers in all aspects of employing staff and ensuring legal compliance and best practice. Services range from offering ad hoc HR and employment law advice, designing contracts, writing staff handbooks, terms & conditions and Human Resources policies. We are able to offer support for one off projects such as investigations, through to a retained HR services and interim HR management. For a free chat and further information contact me at joanne@buildinghr.co.uk
Streamed workshop: women
Amelia Gould
MEng CEng FIET, Naval Ships Combat Systems Director , BAE Systems
Amelia’s career began in the Royal Navy as a Weapons Engineering Officer. Her 11 years of service included leading an engineering team onboard HMS Ark Royal during the war in Iraq in 2003, and defence procurement & support. She then spent 5 years as an Information Technology consultant and Business Analyst, working with public sector organisations to shape their enterprise systems to meet changing needs and leverage new technology. She joined BAE Systems in July 2013, and has since completed a number of Technical Authority, Engineering Management and transformation leadership roles. Her time as Head of Engineering in Naval Ships included the successful delivery of 2 new warships to the Royal Navy. She recently spent a year on secondment as Chief of Staff to the BAE Systems' CEO, before returning to the Maritime Sector as Project Director in April 2019. Amelia is a keen STEM Ambassador, and volunteers for a number of educational charities. Amelia received the WISE Woman In Industry Award in 2017, and in 2018 was named as one of the 100 women to watch by Cranfield University.
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Glass ceiling
- Fertility and menopause support
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Streamed workshop: BAME
Fudia Smartt
Partner – Employment Law , Spencer West LLP
Fudia Smartt is a Partner at Spencer West LLP. She joined the firm in September 2019, having previously been Partner at a boutique employment practice in Chancery Lane. Her previous work experience includes practising in highly regarded employment teams at both Russell Cooke LLP (a top 100 London firm) and City firm Fox Williams LLP. Covering every stage of the employment life cycle, Fudia advises on non-contentious and contentious matters for both employers and employees on topics such as bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), unfair and wrongful dismissal, restrictive covenants, discrimination, whistleblowing, maternity and other family-friendly matters. She has experience across a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, media, financial services and professional services. Fudia has significant experience in the following: Advising on day to day HR operational issues, which includes on how to avoid grievances and disciplinary/dismissal issues; Senior executive appointments and departures (which often include regulatory issues); Bringing and defending complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims in the employment tribunals; Advising employers and employees (as well as partners) on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements, including in relation to team moves; Drafting contracts of employment, service agreements and HR policies; Advising companies on restructuring exercises, redundancies (including collective redundancies) and employment issues arising from insolvency; Advising on TUPE-related matters including in relation to outsourcing and property transactions; Advising both employers and employees on data protection issues; Advising business start-ups in a wide range of industries on how to protect and grow their businesses at a reasonable cost; Providing HR advice and tailored training to clients and external bodies on all employment law matters, from recruitment to dismissal and beyond; Advising members on joining LLPs; and Drafting, negotiating and advising on settlement agreements. She has acted on a number of high profile (and commercially sensitive) matters which has resulted in six-figure settlements for her clients. She has also acted on matters in the County Court, High Courts, Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) and Court of Appeal. Fudia is praised by her clients for her creative problem-solving skills and her ability to provide commercial, tailored legal advice in a friendly and empathetic manner. She has a high emotional intelligence which she uses to assist with getting the results her clients want. Fudia is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Streamed workshop: neurodiversity
Professor Amanda Kirby
CEO , Do-IT Solutions Ltd.
I am a bit unusual wearing several hats as a medic, academic, entrepreneur and parent of an adult with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, and ADHD. Passionate about improving the lives of people who are neurodiverse in education and employment. I am the CEO of a fast expanding computer educational and work-based profiling company (www.doitprofiler.com )which has developed an innovative computerized assessment platform for schools, colleges, justice, employability and apprenticeship sectors. It's being used nationally and internationally to help maximize strengths and provide person-centered solutions delivered across organizations. I am keen to ensure that individuals in the workplace who are neurodiverse can maximise their talents while getting appropriate support. I have championed the government Disability Confident campaign and was the first company in Wales to become a Disability Confident Leader. I have delivered extensive training and consultancy to help support organizations to implement and embed change.I hold a chair in Developmental Disorders in education at the University of South Wales and founded The Dyscovery Centre, an internationally recognized specialist centre for children and adults with developmental disorders along with working with an amazing research team. I have lectured across the world to more than 30,000 teachers, health professionals and parents. I am also currently the patron of the Dyspraxia Association in New Zealand, Advisor to the Dyspraxia Association in Ireland and Medical Advisor to the Dyspraxia Foundation in the UK. In the past 15 years I have published extensively in the field of Developmental Disorders/Neurodiversity and have 2 very practical books on 'How to succeed'-one for Further and Higher Education one for employment for neurodiverse people ( including those with Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), ADHD,and ASD) to help at home, in education or in work.
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Streamed workshop: disability
Mary MacInnes
Compliance and Business Ethics Manager
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Mary MacInnes
Compliance and Business Ethics Manager , Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Mary is an experienced leader in academic publishing, having spent over twenty years working in the area on both sides of the Atlantic. Mary is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in the workplace. Whilst working at Tideway (building London’s Super Sewer ) , she helped establish and led their Ability Action Group. She has written about and advised on issues such as accessibility, equality of opportunity and disability rights generally.
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Streamed workshop: LGBT+
Katrina Robinson MBE
Chair, Law Society LGBT+ Division , The Law Society
Katrina Robinson MBE is the Chair of the Law Society’s LGBT+ Committee and has a long history of activism and engagement with LGBT+ issues. She is also very passionate about ensuring access to the legal profession is open to those from all socio-economic backgrounds. She is a solicitor specialising in anti-social behaviour and fraud and in 2015 was honoured with an MBE for services to social housing. When not working, Katrina spends her time with her wife and cat, though probably more with the latter!
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Streamed workshop: social mobility
Ann Potterton
Head of Apprenticeships , BT Group Plc
Ann joined BT’s Apprenticeship Team in 2017, having previously represented training providers as the Director a provider network. Prior to that she was CEO of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) – a body which specialised in helping smaller companies access funding to recruit and train their own telecoms apprentices. Ann is an experienced Learning & Development Consultant specialising in the vocational sector, leadership and facilitation. She is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, holds a PGCE and a degree in French. BT has delivered apprenticeships as an employer-provider for over 60 years. We deliver a small number of specialist programmes ourselves eg. Openreach’s telecoms engineer programme and we fully outsource over 70 programmes. Apprenticeships are a core part of BT’s Talent Strategy and reflect its ambitions to ensure we maintain and develop a highly skilled workforce; build a diverse and inclusive culture; and promote social mobility.
Reg Bannerman
Apprenticeship Manager , BT Group Plc
Reg Bannerman, joined BT in 1986 as a Telephone Exchange Engineer. In 1996, he moved into a management role and led a team of engineers covering the provision and repair of telephone exchange services for the Westminster area. Between 2002 and 2006, Reg joined a team developing an operating model for Field Operations which involved producing a blueprint for a culture and structural changes. Following the restructure of BT in 2006, he joined the BT Apprenticeship Team and has contributed to the running of the apprentice schemes in different forms for many years which has given him credibility to build relationships with other employers, local government, the London Mayor’s Office and government departments and agencies. He is a member of CMI, and holds a diploma in Management studies.
Working in groups, delegates will learn and debate the key issues below, share experiences and best practise and report back to conference on the main findings
- The business case
- Specific discrimination and inequalities faced
- Recruitment and progression policy and practise
- Integration and minimising differences to avoid a ‘them and us’ culture
- Terminology: the balance between causing offence and confusion
- Attendee experiences and lessons learned
Tea Break
Workshop feedback session
- Ten minutes per workshop
- Workshop leaders will collate and present the key findings from their discussions
- All delegates will receive a summary of the main talking points and suggested workplace action plans to implement